State Department Release on May 24-30 Meetings with North Korea

30 May 2000

Text: State Department Release on May 24-30 Meetings with North Korea

Following is the text of the May 30 statement of the Acting Spokesman:

U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesman
Press Statement by Philip T. Reeker, Acting Spokesman
May 30, 2000
North Korea - Talks in Rome
The U.S. and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) have just completed six days of talks in Rome from May 24 to May 30. The talks were held in a serious and constructive manner, and we made progress.
We discussed our respective concerns regarding the implementation of the Agreed Framework and a range of other bilateral issues. In this regard, the U.S. used this round of talks to launch a new negotiation, called for by Dr. Perry in his report to the President, on Agreed Framework implementation.
The two sides also agreed to hold a preparatory session on May 31 for the next round of missile talks. One purpose of this preparatory session will be to set the stage for the next formal round of U.S.-North Korea missile talks in the near future.
Let me use this opportunity to express the United States government's thanks to the Italian government for its support for these talks. The Government of Italy was a most gracious and generous host. The atmosphere it helped create facilitated the positive direction and tenor of our discussions.

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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