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North Korea Pulls out of Non-Proliferation Treaty; New Mexico Governor Meets With Envoys
Aired January 10, 2003 - 14:01 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: We begin this hour with the shock waves from North Korea's decision to tear up the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty, and nobody's more alarmed than North Korea's neighbor to the south, with whom it remains technically at war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEOK TONG YOUN, S. KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTRY (through translator): North Korea's declaration of a pullout from the NPT is a serious threat to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and runs completely counter to the non-proliferation efforts and hopes of international society.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Events are moving this hour on several fronts.
One is in Washington, and another in Santa Fe, N.M., of all places. CNN's Suzanne Malveaux, live from the White House, Bob Franken's in Santa Fe.
Suzanne, we're going to start with you first.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, the White House is really downplaying the significance of North Korea's defiance, its withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, saying it was not a surprise.
They had it -- perhaps even expected this, but it wasn't really of great concern. It is certainly a disappointment.
But it is clear that the White House is aggressively trying to round up support from allies, allies that are critical in holding talks with North Korea.
President Bush earlier today speaking with China's Jiang Zemin by telephone. Both of the world leaders, we are told, agreeing that this is of concern to the international community.
Also, President Bush making the case that the administration has no plans to invade North Korea.
Now, the White House is somewhat defensive in its policy, really saying that economic and diplomatic pressure is working, that their tactic is going to work.
And they have taken heart from some of the international community who have expressed the same.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON: I think it's fair to say that when you look at the history of North Korea and its dealings with multiple nations around the world, their approach is that the worse they act the more they get. And that's an approach that this administration will not be a party to.
And so I think what you do see in the case of North Korea here is a nation that has had a pattern of acting out of line with international agreements and then seeking to be rewarded by the rest of the world.
And the president's approach to this matter will remain a diplomatic approach, a matter of steady and steely diplomacy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: The White House still saying that they want talks with North Korea but that they are not willing to negotiate. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs James Kelly, will be leaving for the region this weekend.
He'll be meeting with representatives from South Korea, Japan, and China, among others, to stress the importance of economic and diplomatic pressure with North Korea to get its to change its course -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Suzanne Malveaux, thank you.
Now to Santa Fe, N.M., and Bob Franken -- Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, here in Santa Fe, they have just broken for lunch, they being the governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson -- And of course, we know why he is involved in this negotiation, because of his familiarity with North Korea, having visited there on several diplomatic missions, or quasi- diplomatic missions, and of course his work as the United Nations ambassador.
He's been involved all morning in talks with the representatives of the U.N. mission for the country of North Korea, including Han Sang Yoh (ph), who is the deputy ambassador. He knows Governor Richardson. There is a very warm relationship. It's described as a candid conversation.
One of the issues that has been on the table is the withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. There has been considerable discussion about that.
We're told that these discussions are going on in concert with conversations between Governor Richardson and Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Now, this is interesting. They've taken a break for lunch. They were expecting to break up early this afternoon, but now they're going to resume late this afternoon. And there is no decision yet on whether they will continue until tomorrow, whether they will finish tonight.
We're going to try and expand on this a little bit by somebody who has to speak in very delicate terms.
It is the communications director for Governor Richardson, Billy Sparks.
First of all, how much significance should we put into the fact that they're now possibly going to meet tomorrow?
BILLY SPARKS, GOV. RICHARDSON'S SPOKESMAN: Well, I think that both the governor and the North Koreans are interested in substantive talks. As I said, they're positive in atmosphere but very frank.
We decided to continue the talks at 4 this afternoon. And I don't know how long they'll last into the night.
FRANKEN: Now, of course, this is done in coordination with the administration to the extent that the governor, as you've pointed out, has spoken with Secretary of State Powell.
Is he acting on the instructions of the administration?
SPARKS: Well, again, Governor Richardson is not an official special envoy, nor is he an official negotiator. However, he is constantly in touch with the secretary of state and has talked with him yesterday and today.
FRANKEN: Would his role possibly be to somehow be doing a deal with the North Koreans?
SPARKS: I can't comment on that. I mean, the important thing is, as I said, the governor's intention is to help the country in any way that he can, and that's why we're here.
FRANKEN: So, do we know if the response from the North Koreans has been positive when he's brought up, for instance, the non- proliferation treaty? Can you talk about that?
SPARKS: No, no. I can't, sir.
FRANKEN: Is it just something that you've been instructed not to?
SPARKS: Well, as far as I understand, it's just that Governor Richardson has raised that issue; he's raised other concerns of current North Korean policy that the United States has.
Governor Richardson is supportive of the administration's policy, and our discussions will continue later today.
FRANKEN: And they are discussions that's are just one of the many channels that are being exploited by the administration, we're told, as the Bush Administration tries to come up with some way to bridge what seems to be this huge, very dangerous gap between the United States and North Korea.
And one of the outposts now has become Santa Fe, N.M. -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: That was my question. We were all curious: Santa Fe, N.M. We were surprised to hear of the location and the connection to this issue.
FRANKEN: Well, the connection, of course, is because Governor Bill Richardson is the governor, and this is the state capital. This is the governor's mansion here.
And of course, before he came back to the state and became governor, he had quite a long career in Washington, which included his proximity to the North Koreans at the United Nations and, of course, going back to 1994, participation in some very delicate negotiations in North Korea.
So quite frankly, when we heard yesterday that he might be brought into this, the reaction generally in Washington was, sure, that's certainly possible.
PHILLIPS: All right. From Santa Fe, Bob Franken. Thank you. Not a bad place to be.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Mexico Governor Meets With Envoys>
Aired January 10, 2003 - 14:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this hour with the shock waves from North Korea's decision to tear up the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty, and nobody's more alarmed than North Korea's neighbor to the south, with whom it remains technically at war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEOK TONG YOUN, S. KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTRY (through translator): North Korea's declaration of a pullout from the NPT is a serious threat to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and runs completely counter to the non-proliferation efforts and hopes of international society.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Events are moving this hour on several fronts.
One is in Washington, and another in Santa Fe, N.M., of all places. CNN's Suzanne Malveaux, live from the White House, Bob Franken's in Santa Fe.
Suzanne, we're going to start with you first.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, the White House is really downplaying the significance of North Korea's defiance, its withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, saying it was not a surprise.
They had it -- perhaps even expected this, but it wasn't really of great concern. It is certainly a disappointment.
But it is clear that the White House is aggressively trying to round up support from allies, allies that are critical in holding talks with North Korea.
President Bush earlier today speaking with China's Jiang Zemin by telephone. Both of the world leaders, we are told, agreeing that this is of concern to the international community.
Also, President Bush making the case that the administration has no plans to invade North Korea.
Now, the White House is somewhat defensive in its policy, really saying that economic and diplomatic pressure is working, that their tactic is going to work.
And they have taken heart from some of the international community who have expressed the same.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON: I think it's fair to say that when you look at the history of North Korea and its dealings with multiple nations around the world, their approach is that the worse they act the more they get. And that's an approach that this administration will not be a party to.
And so I think what you do see in the case of North Korea here is a nation that has had a pattern of acting out of line with international agreements and then seeking to be rewarded by the rest of the world.
And the president's approach to this matter will remain a diplomatic approach, a matter of steady and steely diplomacy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: The White House still saying that they want talks with North Korea but that they are not willing to negotiate. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs James Kelly, will be leaving for the region this weekend.
He'll be meeting with representatives from South Korea, Japan, and China, among others, to stress the importance of economic and diplomatic pressure with North Korea to get its to change its course -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Suzanne Malveaux, thank you.
Now to Santa Fe, N.M., and Bob Franken -- Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, here in Santa Fe, they have just broken for lunch, they being the governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson -- And of course, we know why he is involved in this negotiation, because of his familiarity with North Korea, having visited there on several diplomatic missions, or quasi- diplomatic missions, and of course his work as the United Nations ambassador.
He's been involved all morning in talks with the representatives of the U.N. mission for the country of North Korea, including Han Sang Yoh (ph), who is the deputy ambassador. He knows Governor Richardson. There is a very warm relationship. It's described as a candid conversation.
One of the issues that has been on the table is the withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. There has been considerable discussion about that.
We're told that these discussions are going on in concert with conversations between Governor Richardson and Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Now, this is interesting. They've taken a break for lunch. They were expecting to break up early this afternoon, but now they're going to resume late this afternoon. And there is no decision yet on whether they will continue until tomorrow, whether they will finish tonight.
We're going to try and expand on this a little bit by somebody who has to speak in very delicate terms.
It is the communications director for Governor Richardson, Billy Sparks.
First of all, how much significance should we put into the fact that they're now possibly going to meet tomorrow?
BILLY SPARKS, GOV. RICHARDSON'S SPOKESMAN: Well, I think that both the governor and the North Koreans are interested in substantive talks. As I said, they're positive in atmosphere but very frank.
We decided to continue the talks at 4 this afternoon. And I don't know how long they'll last into the night.
FRANKEN: Now, of course, this is done in coordination with the administration to the extent that the governor, as you've pointed out, has spoken with Secretary of State Powell.
Is he acting on the instructions of the administration?
SPARKS: Well, again, Governor Richardson is not an official special envoy, nor is he an official negotiator. However, he is constantly in touch with the secretary of state and has talked with him yesterday and today.
FRANKEN: Would his role possibly be to somehow be doing a deal with the North Koreans?
SPARKS: I can't comment on that. I mean, the important thing is, as I said, the governor's intention is to help the country in any way that he can, and that's why we're here.
FRANKEN: So, do we know if the response from the North Koreans has been positive when he's brought up, for instance, the non- proliferation treaty? Can you talk about that?
SPARKS: No, no. I can't, sir.
FRANKEN: Is it just something that you've been instructed not to?
SPARKS: Well, as far as I understand, it's just that Governor Richardson has raised that issue; he's raised other concerns of current North Korean policy that the United States has.
Governor Richardson is supportive of the administration's policy, and our discussions will continue later today.
FRANKEN: And they are discussions that's are just one of the many channels that are being exploited by the administration, we're told, as the Bush Administration tries to come up with some way to bridge what seems to be this huge, very dangerous gap between the United States and North Korea.
And one of the outposts now has become Santa Fe, N.M. -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: That was my question. We were all curious: Santa Fe, N.M. We were surprised to hear of the location and the connection to this issue.
FRANKEN: Well, the connection, of course, is because Governor Bill Richardson is the governor, and this is the state capital. This is the governor's mansion here.
And of course, before he came back to the state and became governor, he had quite a long career in Washington, which included his proximity to the North Koreans at the United Nations and, of course, going back to 1994, participation in some very delicate negotiations in North Korea.
So quite frankly, when we heard yesterday that he might be brought into this, the reaction generally in Washington was, sure, that's certainly possible.
PHILLIPS: All right. From Santa Fe, Bob Franken. Thank you. Not a bad place to be.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Mexico Governor Meets With Envoys>
