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American Morning

James Kelly Heading to China

Aired January 14, 2003 - 08:09   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get to the latest now on North Korea and that stand-off that continues. The secretary of state, Colin Powell, telling the "Wall Street Journal" the U.S. would need a new arrangement with North Korea in order to limit its nuclear production capabilities. And Powell's assistant, James Kelly, now heading to China. And Beijing a very influential player when it comes to dealing with North Korea.
Let's get to South Korea right now and the capital city of Seoul and CNN's Rebecca MacKinnon for the latest there -- hello.

REBECCA MACKINNON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill.

Well, Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly, as you said, has now just arrived in Beijing after a couple of days meeting here in Seoul with leaders. Now, his stop in Beijing will be very important because he's trying to get the Chinese to do more to get North Korea to scrap its nuclear program. The Chinese indicating they welcome dialogue between the United States and North Korea and that the Chinese would even be willing to host talks between those two countries if it comes to that.

Now, here in South Korea, Kelly had a very productive two days of meetings, according to diplomats, and he left with a much stronger alliance between the United States and the incoming administration of President Elect Roh Moo-hyun, who was just elected in December coming into office in February.

Roh telling Kelly that he very much values the alliance with the United States and that South Korea really does want U.S. troops to stay here in South Korea and that people who have protested against them are only a small minority -- Bill.

HEMMER: Rebecca, thanks.

Rebecca MacKinnon again in Seoul, South Korea.

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 January 14, 2003 - 08:09   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get to the latest now on North Korea and that stand-off that continues. The secretary of state, Colin Powell, telling the "Wall Street Journal" the U.S. would need a new arrangement with North Korea in order to limit its nuclear production capabilities. And Powell's assistant, James Kelly, now heading to China. And Beijing a very influential player when it comes to dealing with North Korea.
Let's get to South Korea right now and the capital city of Seoul and CNN's Rebecca MacKinnon for the latest there -- hello.

REBECCA MACKINNON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill.

Well, Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly, as you said, has now just arrived in Beijing after a couple of days meeting here in Seoul with leaders. Now, his stop in Beijing will be very important because he's trying to get the Chinese to do more to get North Korea to scrap its nuclear program. The Chinese indicating they welcome dialogue between the United States and North Korea and that the Chinese would even be willing to host talks between those two countries if it comes to that.

Now, here in South Korea, Kelly had a very productive two days of meetings, according to diplomats, and he left with a much stronger alliance between the United States and the incoming administration of President Elect Roh Moo-hyun, who was just elected in December coming into office in February.

Roh telling Kelly that he very much values the alliance with the United States and that South Korea really does want U.S. troops to stay here in South Korea and that people who have protested against them are only a small minority -- Bill.

HEMMER: Rebecca, thanks.

Rebecca MacKinnon again in Seoul, South Korea.

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