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CNN Live Saturday
U.S. May Push for U.N. Sanctions Against North Korea
Aired April 26, 2003 - 13:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: The United States is plotting its next move after the conclusion of talks on North Korea's suspected nuclear weapons program. Among the possibilities, a push for U.N. sanctions against the communist country. Also today, there is word that British diplomats will meet next week with the North Korean delegation.
CNN White House correspondent, Chris Burns, is keeping track of the latest developments, and he is joining us from the White House. Chris, we know that this was something that the administration is saying was not a surprise, but it certainly complicates policy, doesn't it?
CHRIS BURNS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Andrea, certainly a surprise, according to U.S. officials anyway, the North Koreans said in these talks in the last few days with the United States and with the Chinese in Beijing, that they had at least one nuclear weapon and that they had also, perhaps more troubling to a lot of analysts, is they have reprocessed some 8,000 nuclear fuel rods from their Yongbyon nuclear plant.
That material is weapons grade plutonium. Could be used to make several nuclear bombs. That is especially troubling to analysts.
Now, the White House delegate is dealing with this very delicately. At this hour, last word, James Kelly, the assistant secretary of state for East Asia who was in those talks, is on his way back to Washington to brief officials here. He had passed through South Korea and Japan to speak with them, as well, about what the next step is there.
Now, there are questions as to whether there should be sanctions placed against North Korea to try to pressure them into rejoining the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and, also, get back these nuclear inspectors that they had kicked out several months ago. Now those sanctions, North Korea it says will see U.N. sanctions as an act or a declaration of war.
So, Ari Fleischer, the White House press secretary, here saying that they are talking about their -- to their allies -- about this, but they are dancing around this issue very delicately.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Our view is that North Korea has taken actions that continue to isolate North Korea, that continue to invite upon North Korea international disagreement, and we will continue to work with our partners. We have not expressed any position about whether that should result specifically in sanctions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNS: Perhaps more clarification when the South Koreans are expected to meet with the North Koreans in the next couple of days and Pyongyang and also the British meeting with North Koreans in London in the coming week. Andrea?
KOPPEL: On a lighter note, Chris, we know tonight is the White House correspondents' dinner, where President Bush will be the guest of honor, along with Laura Bush. Now, usually this is a time when the President will make a lot of jokes, perhaps even at his own expense. But considering that this is coming after the war in Iraq, what have you heard? What can we expect?
BURNS: I haven't heard exactly what he would say, but, obviously yes, he probably would be a bit guarded on this. Obviously, even publicly, is being very guarded about whether to declare a victory in Iraq because he is still waiting from word from his commanders as to whether they really have secured the country to the point that they have rubbed out the pockets of resistance that they've been talking about.
And we just saw, also, the explosion in Baghdad. Shows that the country is still a very, very dangerous place. So, a lot of work still to do. So, the President probably will be rather guarded about that.
But, that said, the dinner is off the record, as seen as the ability for the President and the journalists to poke a bit of fun at each other. And, obviously, they will take that at advantage tonight. Andrea?
KOPPEL: Well, I am sure people will be looking forward an opportunity to be making a few jokes. Chris Burns at the White House. Thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired April 26, 2003 - 13:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: The United States is plotting its next move after the conclusion of talks on North Korea's suspected nuclear weapons program. Among the possibilities, a push for U.N. sanctions against the communist country. Also today, there is word that British diplomats will meet next week with the North Korean delegation.
CNN White House correspondent, Chris Burns, is keeping track of the latest developments, and he is joining us from the White House. Chris, we know that this was something that the administration is saying was not a surprise, but it certainly complicates policy, doesn't it?
CHRIS BURNS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Andrea, certainly a surprise, according to U.S. officials anyway, the North Koreans said in these talks in the last few days with the United States and with the Chinese in Beijing, that they had at least one nuclear weapon and that they had also, perhaps more troubling to a lot of analysts, is they have reprocessed some 8,000 nuclear fuel rods from their Yongbyon nuclear plant.
That material is weapons grade plutonium. Could be used to make several nuclear bombs. That is especially troubling to analysts.
Now, the White House delegate is dealing with this very delicately. At this hour, last word, James Kelly, the assistant secretary of state for East Asia who was in those talks, is on his way back to Washington to brief officials here. He had passed through South Korea and Japan to speak with them, as well, about what the next step is there.
Now, there are questions as to whether there should be sanctions placed against North Korea to try to pressure them into rejoining the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and, also, get back these nuclear inspectors that they had kicked out several months ago. Now those sanctions, North Korea it says will see U.N. sanctions as an act or a declaration of war.
So, Ari Fleischer, the White House press secretary, here saying that they are talking about their -- to their allies -- about this, but they are dancing around this issue very delicately.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Our view is that North Korea has taken actions that continue to isolate North Korea, that continue to invite upon North Korea international disagreement, and we will continue to work with our partners. We have not expressed any position about whether that should result specifically in sanctions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNS: Perhaps more clarification when the South Koreans are expected to meet with the North Koreans in the next couple of days and Pyongyang and also the British meeting with North Koreans in London in the coming week. Andrea?
KOPPEL: On a lighter note, Chris, we know tonight is the White House correspondents' dinner, where President Bush will be the guest of honor, along with Laura Bush. Now, usually this is a time when the President will make a lot of jokes, perhaps even at his own expense. But considering that this is coming after the war in Iraq, what have you heard? What can we expect?
BURNS: I haven't heard exactly what he would say, but, obviously yes, he probably would be a bit guarded on this. Obviously, even publicly, is being very guarded about whether to declare a victory in Iraq because he is still waiting from word from his commanders as to whether they really have secured the country to the point that they have rubbed out the pockets of resistance that they've been talking about.
And we just saw, also, the explosion in Baghdad. Shows that the country is still a very, very dangerous place. So, a lot of work still to do. So, the President probably will be rather guarded about that.
But, that said, the dinner is off the record, as seen as the ability for the President and the journalists to poke a bit of fun at each other. And, obviously, they will take that at advantage tonight. Andrea?
KOPPEL: Well, I am sure people will be looking forward an opportunity to be making a few jokes. Chris Burns at the White House. Thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
