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Bush Administration Says It Doesn't Want to Escalate Nuclear Standoff with North Korea
Aired December 24, 2002 - 14:08 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: The Bush administration says it doesn't want to escalate the nuclear standoff, but it won't give in to the blackmail either. The north is demanding one-on-one negotiations over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, and warning of uncontrollable catastrophe otherwise.
CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is live from the White House with the latest from there -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, President Bush had a busy morning this morning. He actually put in a call to nine service members of the armed forces to congratulate them, to thank them rather, for their sacrifice during this holiday season and the harsh conditions throughout the world representing all five of the military branches.
The president also being updated on the latest situation out of Iraq, North Korea, South Korea, Venezuela, monitoring those situations, we're told by his spokesperson.
As you know, North Korea increasingly becoming more defiant, but the White House really downplaying the sense of urgency, saying it can work in the initial phases and economic pressure can also work as well. We know that a state department official today saying that the United States "will not give in to blackmail."
Secretary of State Colin Powell over the last 24 or 48 hours has been making a flurry of phone calls to allies, Russia, and as well as members of the European Union, to make the United States' position very clear, again, putting a lot of pressure on North Korea diplomatically, as well as economically.
CNN military General Wesley Clark also echoing the administration's position.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. WESLEY CLARK, (RET.) CNN MILITARY ANALYST: You've got an army that's poised near the demilitarized zone. It's about a million man army. It is very strong. Now, they have no desire to attack. There hasn't been a war on the Korean peninsula for over half a century, but this is a regime which is collapsing, failing regime internally. It's crying out for attention and assistance, and it's unpredictable, and so we've got to be very careful in managing this situation. It's not a situation that calls for war. There shouldn't be a war there, it should be able to be handled, but it does have to be handled.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now an administration official today saying they believe North Korea will work with a strategy to create a wedge between North Korea and South Korea, trying to win concessions, or additional support from the United States, or taking advantage that the administration is focusing at this time on Iraq -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, Suzanne, on a much lighter note, the president, what is he doing for Christmas?
MALVEAUX: Much, much lighter note. He is enjoying it at Camp David with his family. They're going to enjoy a candlelight service this evening. We're told they will have tamales and enchiladas as well. Tomorrow, they're going to wait until Christmas to open up the gifts. They open them as a family, we're told, then they're going to have a big brunch, waffles and pancakes, and then afterwards, a big Christmas dinner, beef tenderloin, potatoes, hot rolls, the whole bit. We're told they're just going to whoop it up the next 24 hours.
WALLACE: Did you get an invitation?
MALVEAUX: No, I didn't, but we tried to find out what the president was giving the first lady and vice versa. They will not give it up until tomorrow. They're going to keep it a secret.
PHILLIPS: We'll talk about it on the 26th. Suzanne Malveaux, 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
Nuclear Standoff with North Korea>
Aired December 24, 2002 - 14:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The Bush administration says it doesn't want to escalate the nuclear standoff, but it won't give in to the blackmail either. The north is demanding one-on-one negotiations over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, and warning of uncontrollable catastrophe otherwise.
CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is live from the White House with the latest from there -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, President Bush had a busy morning this morning. He actually put in a call to nine service members of the armed forces to congratulate them, to thank them rather, for their sacrifice during this holiday season and the harsh conditions throughout the world representing all five of the military branches.
The president also being updated on the latest situation out of Iraq, North Korea, South Korea, Venezuela, monitoring those situations, we're told by his spokesperson.
As you know, North Korea increasingly becoming more defiant, but the White House really downplaying the sense of urgency, saying it can work in the initial phases and economic pressure can also work as well. We know that a state department official today saying that the United States "will not give in to blackmail."
Secretary of State Colin Powell over the last 24 or 48 hours has been making a flurry of phone calls to allies, Russia, and as well as members of the European Union, to make the United States' position very clear, again, putting a lot of pressure on North Korea diplomatically, as well as economically.
CNN military General Wesley Clark also echoing the administration's position.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. WESLEY CLARK, (RET.) CNN MILITARY ANALYST: You've got an army that's poised near the demilitarized zone. It's about a million man army. It is very strong. Now, they have no desire to attack. There hasn't been a war on the Korean peninsula for over half a century, but this is a regime which is collapsing, failing regime internally. It's crying out for attention and assistance, and it's unpredictable, and so we've got to be very careful in managing this situation. It's not a situation that calls for war. There shouldn't be a war there, it should be able to be handled, but it does have to be handled.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now an administration official today saying they believe North Korea will work with a strategy to create a wedge between North Korea and South Korea, trying to win concessions, or additional support from the United States, or taking advantage that the administration is focusing at this time on Iraq -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, Suzanne, on a much lighter note, the president, what is he doing for Christmas?
MALVEAUX: Much, much lighter note. He is enjoying it at Camp David with his family. They're going to enjoy a candlelight service this evening. We're told they will have tamales and enchiladas as well. Tomorrow, they're going to wait until Christmas to open up the gifts. They open them as a family, we're told, then they're going to have a big brunch, waffles and pancakes, and then afterwards, a big Christmas dinner, beef tenderloin, potatoes, hot rolls, the whole bit. We're told they're just going to whoop it up the next 24 hours.
WALLACE: Did you get an invitation?
MALVEAUX: No, I didn't, but we tried to find out what the president was giving the first lady and vice versa. They will not give it up until tomorrow. They're going to keep it a secret.
PHILLIPS: We'll talk about it on the 26th. Suzanne Malveaux, 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
Nuclear Standoff with North Korea>
