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American Morning

Mixed Messages From North Korea

Aired January 10, 2003 - 09:02   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.


PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the mixed messages from North Korea. It says it has no intention of producing nuclear weapons, but the country is pulling out of the global nuclear arms control treaty. The state-run news agency says -- quote -- "The withdrawal is a legitimate self-defense measure taken against the U.S. moves to stifle North Korea." There is international reaction to the move. Japan's prime minister expressed deep concern about what he calls a very serious matter. And Russia says the nuclear pullout creates serious concern.
For more on the standoff now, let's go to Suzanne Malveaux, who is standing by at the White House this morning.

Good morning, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Undersecretary of State John Bolton said this is not unexpected, but it does complicate the situation for the White House. The White House really downplaying this development. But, also, really getting mixed messages from North Korea. On one hand, a defiant North Korea pulling out of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty, and on the other hand, a cooperative North Korea, sending two envoys to speak to the Governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, who used to be a U.N. ambassador, who has a lot of experience in dealing with the North Koreans.

But the Bush administration really has this position. They say let the talks go on, we'll hear what they have to say, we'll take advantage of this open line of communication, but at the same time, we will stick with our policy, that is that North Korea must give up its nuclear weapons program, that that is not negotiable.

They also emphasize as well that Bill Richardson, Governor Richardson, is not an official -- is not acting in an official capacity of the Bush administration here. Who is, however, assistant secretary of state for East Asian affairs, Jim Kelly. He's going to the area to talk to South Korea, Japan, China, among others, talking to U.S. allies, really trying to push them to get the economic diplomatic pressure on North Korea to change its course -- Paula.

ZAHN: Thank you, Suzanne. For more now on the talks in New Mexico and the surprise role Bill Richardson is playing, let's check in with Ed Lavandera, who is standing by in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Good morning, Ed. ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Governor Richardson says he supports the administration's policy and how they've been handling the North Korean situation. The governor's spokesperson saying that last night after a two-hour working dinner with two Korean diplomats, the North Korean ambassador to the U.N. and his first secretary. The talks were described as cordial, but candid. They will return here in a couple of hours, at 9:00 Mountain Time, in just about two hours, to resume the discussions. We're told they will last several more hours, but they won't say beyond that what else is expected throughout the day, if this will be the end of discussions, or if they will continue on later on into the day.

Bill Richardson making the point and telling the North Korean diplomats that he is not here on an official capacity, not a negotiator on behalf of the U.S. government, but only here to listen. He will then pass along what the North Koreans tell him to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

So Bill Richardson says he's happy to be a part of this process and helping out his country, he says, and he will continue to listen later on this morning.

ZAHN: Yet, Ed, while he's not negotiating for the Bush administration or acting on their behalf, a high-placed administration told CNN overnight that, in fact, they are allowing him to carry a message to the North Koreans, which I guess would basically say the United States is not prepared to attack North Korea. Has anybody talked about that message this morning?

LAVANDERA: They haven't. And we tried to get more specifics out of exactly what was talked about last night during this working dinner, and the governor's spokesperson not elaborating as to some of the details that took place during those conversations and only to say that the talks will continue, and that perhaps Governor Richardson will have something to say later on today.

ZAHN: Ed Lavandera, thanks so much for that live update, and Suzanne Malveaux, as well, from the White House.

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Aired January 10, 2003 - 09:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the mixed messages from North Korea. It says it has no intention of producing nuclear weapons, but the country is pulling out of the global nuclear arms control treaty. The state-run news agency says -- quote -- "The withdrawal is a legitimate self-defense measure taken against the U.S. moves to stifle North Korea." There is international reaction to the move. Japan's prime minister expressed deep concern about what he calls a very serious matter. And Russia says the nuclear pullout creates serious concern.
For more on the standoff now, let's go to Suzanne Malveaux, who is standing by at the White House this morning.

Good morning, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Undersecretary of State John Bolton said this is not unexpected, but it does complicate the situation for the White House. The White House really downplaying this development. But, also, really getting mixed messages from North Korea. On one hand, a defiant North Korea pulling out of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty, and on the other hand, a cooperative North Korea, sending two envoys to speak to the Governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, who used to be a U.N. ambassador, who has a lot of experience in dealing with the North Koreans.

But the Bush administration really has this position. They say let the talks go on, we'll hear what they have to say, we'll take advantage of this open line of communication, but at the same time, we will stick with our policy, that is that North Korea must give up its nuclear weapons program, that that is not negotiable.

They also emphasize as well that Bill Richardson, Governor Richardson, is not an official -- is not acting in an official capacity of the Bush administration here. Who is, however, assistant secretary of state for East Asian affairs, Jim Kelly. He's going to the area to talk to South Korea, Japan, China, among others, talking to U.S. allies, really trying to push them to get the economic diplomatic pressure on North Korea to change its course -- Paula.

ZAHN: Thank you, Suzanne. For more now on the talks in New Mexico and the surprise role Bill Richardson is playing, let's check in with Ed Lavandera, who is standing by in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Good morning, Ed. ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Governor Richardson says he supports the administration's policy and how they've been handling the North Korean situation. The governor's spokesperson saying that last night after a two-hour working dinner with two Korean diplomats, the North Korean ambassador to the U.N. and his first secretary. The talks were described as cordial, but candid. They will return here in a couple of hours, at 9:00 Mountain Time, in just about two hours, to resume the discussions. We're told they will last several more hours, but they won't say beyond that what else is expected throughout the day, if this will be the end of discussions, or if they will continue on later on into the day.

Bill Richardson making the point and telling the North Korean diplomats that he is not here on an official capacity, not a negotiator on behalf of the U.S. government, but only here to listen. He will then pass along what the North Koreans tell him to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

So Bill Richardson says he's happy to be a part of this process and helping out his country, he says, and he will continue to listen later on this morning.

ZAHN: Yet, Ed, while he's not negotiating for the Bush administration or acting on their behalf, a high-placed administration told CNN overnight that, in fact, they are allowing him to carry a message to the North Koreans, which I guess would basically say the United States is not prepared to attack North Korea. Has anybody talked about that message this morning?

LAVANDERA: They haven't. And we tried to get more specifics out of exactly what was talked about last night during this working dinner, and the governor's spokesperson not elaborating as to some of the details that took place during those conversations and only to say that the talks will continue, and that perhaps Governor Richardson will have something to say later on today.

ZAHN: Ed Lavandera, thanks so much for that live update, and Suzanne Malveaux, as well, from the White House.

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