30 May 2000 Text: State Department Release on Visit to North Korean Facility The U.S. Department of State issued a press release May 30 announcing that a U.S. team left North Korea May 27 after visiting, with the cooperation of the North Korean government, the underground facility at Kumchang-ni. The release said the team found conditions at Kumchang-ni unchanged since the first visit in May 1999, i.e. the facility remains an unfinished site, with an underground portion consisting of an extensive, empty tunnel complex. Following is the text: U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman Press Statement by Philip T. Reeker, Acting Spokesman May 30, 2000 Second Kumchang-Ni Site Visit Completed The U.S. team visiting the underground facility at Kumchang-ni in North Korea has completed its visit and departed May 27. The team reports that the DPRK cooperated fully in the visit, providing unhampered access which allowed for the rapid completion of the team's work. The team found conditions unchanged since the first visit in May 1999. It remains an unfinished site, the underground portion of which is an extensive, empty tunnel complex. A careful technical analysis of the team's work will now take place before further judgments can be made and reported. Under the terms of the agreement reached with Pyongyang in March 1999, the U.S. may visit the site in the future. (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov) Return to the Washington File