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White House Defending Role in Stopping Missile-Laden Ship Headed for Yemen

Aired December 11, 2002 - 14:03   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, we begin this hour at the White House, which is defending its role in stopping a missile laden ship headed for Yemen and also its decision to let that shipment go. CNN's John King brings us up to date now.
John?

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the White House says it had every right and every reason to stop the ship. The ship was tracked when it left North Korea. The White House says its destination was uncertain, the cargo, known by U.S. intelligence sources to be Scud missiles, so the administration says it had every right to search that ship and temporarily seize it. But the administration also saying it has no choice now, under international law, but to let that shipment go forward. The missiles will be delivered to Yemen. Yemen is a key ally of the United States right now in the war on terrorism. After intense diplomatic conversations this morning that included Vice President Cheney calling the president of Yemen, the United States says it will let that shipment go, because it has been assured those missiles will not end up in the hands of any unfriendly governments or terrorists.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECY: Yemen is a sovereign government and Yemen has given the United States assurances and this is what Mr. McClellan referenced this morning in his conversations that took place with Yemen. Yemen has given the United States assurances it will not transfer the missiles to anyone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KING: The United States still not happy about this. It had asked Yemen in the past not to do any business with what it considers to be a rogue regime here at the White House, North Korea. The White House says it will try to reach a formal agreement, it's negotiating with Yemen to have no more missiles purchases, no more arms purchases of any kind with North Korea. But the White House says there's nothing in international law that prohibits the sale of these Scud missiles, conventional weapons, and therefore, after briefly seizing the ship, it will be allow those missiles to be delivered.

Kyra?

PHILLIPS: And, John, you have to wonder about this relationship between the U.S. and Yemen. There's a question of sanctions. What kind of affect and impact do you think all of this will have on that relationship?

KING: Well, White House officials say they'll make their displeasure clear and they have made their displeasure clear and they hope to negotiate a formal agreement under which Yemen agrees to no longer buy any weapons systems from North Korea. But U.S. officials say this is one of the compromises the government has to make right now. In the case of Yemen, in the case of Pakistan, two critical allies when it comes to tracking down al Qaeda and other terrorist operations in that part of the world, both have weapons dealings with North Korea, both have been urged by the United States not to have further dealings, both, at times have failed to keep that commitment and have had dealings with North Korea. The administration says though they are critical allies and walking away from the relationship would be much worse than just trying to negotiate these things through.

PHILLIPS: Live from the white house, John King. Thanks, John.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Headed for Yemen>


Aired December 11, 2002 - 14:03   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, we begin this hour at the White House, which is defending its role in stopping a missile laden ship headed for Yemen and also its decision to let that shipment go. CNN's John King brings us up to date now.
John?

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the White House says it had every right and every reason to stop the ship. The ship was tracked when it left North Korea. The White House says its destination was uncertain, the cargo, known by U.S. intelligence sources to be Scud missiles, so the administration says it had every right to search that ship and temporarily seize it. But the administration also saying it has no choice now, under international law, but to let that shipment go forward. The missiles will be delivered to Yemen. Yemen is a key ally of the United States right now in the war on terrorism. After intense diplomatic conversations this morning that included Vice President Cheney calling the president of Yemen, the United States says it will let that shipment go, because it has been assured those missiles will not end up in the hands of any unfriendly governments or terrorists.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECY: Yemen is a sovereign government and Yemen has given the United States assurances and this is what Mr. McClellan referenced this morning in his conversations that took place with Yemen. Yemen has given the United States assurances it will not transfer the missiles to anyone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KING: The United States still not happy about this. It had asked Yemen in the past not to do any business with what it considers to be a rogue regime here at the White House, North Korea. The White House says it will try to reach a formal agreement, it's negotiating with Yemen to have no more missiles purchases, no more arms purchases of any kind with North Korea. But the White House says there's nothing in international law that prohibits the sale of these Scud missiles, conventional weapons, and therefore, after briefly seizing the ship, it will be allow those missiles to be delivered.

Kyra?

PHILLIPS: And, John, you have to wonder about this relationship between the U.S. and Yemen. There's a question of sanctions. What kind of affect and impact do you think all of this will have on that relationship?

KING: Well, White House officials say they'll make their displeasure clear and they have made their displeasure clear and they hope to negotiate a formal agreement under which Yemen agrees to no longer buy any weapons systems from North Korea. But U.S. officials say this is one of the compromises the government has to make right now. In the case of Yemen, in the case of Pakistan, two critical allies when it comes to tracking down al Qaeda and other terrorist operations in that part of the world, both have weapons dealings with North Korea, both have been urged by the United States not to have further dealings, both, at times have failed to keep that commitment and have had dealings with North Korea. The administration says though they are critical allies and walking away from the relationship would be much worse than just trying to negotiate these things through.

PHILLIPS: Live from the white house, John King. Thanks, John.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Headed for Yemen>