01 November 2000 Einhorn on Renewal of U.S.-N. Korea Missile Talks The United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) recently began another round of missile talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In remarks delivered November 1 in Kuala Lumpur, Robert J. Einhorn Assistant Secretary of State for Nonproliferation, said the focus of the talks would be on all aspects of the missile issue, including the DPRK's indigenous missile programs, its missile-related exports, and the North Korean proposal of exchanging serious DPRK restraint in missiles for launches of DPRK satellites. The United States, Einhorn said, "will seek solutions that promote nonproliferation and regional and global security, and that help move U.S.-DPRK relations forward." Einhorn said that in an U.S.-DPRK Joint Communiqu?issued October 12th, the two sides agreed that "resolution of the missile issue would make an essential contribution to a fundamentally improved relationship between them and to peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region." In the communiqu? the DPRK agreed not to launch long-range missiles of any kind while talks on the missile issue continue, Einhorn said. Following is the text of Einhorn's remarks: Robert J. Einhorn Assistant Secretary of State for Nonproliferation Remarks at the U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia November 1, 2000 Today, the United States and North Korea resume talks on missile issues. These talks follow directly the extensive discussions on missile issues held by Secretary of State Albright and DPRK leader Chairman Kim Jong-Il last week in Pyongyang. When bilateral missile talks last took place in Kuala Lumpur in July, I noted the positive developments on Korean issues that had recently occurred, most notably the summit meeting in June between Kim Jong-Il and South Korean President Kim Dae Jung. Since the July missile talks, these favorable trends have continued. The inter-Korean dialogue has intensified, including at the level of Defense Ministers, and just a few days ago it was announced that working-level economic talks will be held soon and that a second round of family reunions would take place toward the end of this month. The normalization process between the DPRK and Japan also continues, with another round of discussion held this week in Beijing. Additional countries, including most recently the U.K. and Germany, are moving toward diplomatic relations with the DPRK. In the case of the U.S.-DPRK dialogue, Chairman Kim Jong-Il's special envoy, Vice Marshal Jo Myong Rok, Traveled to the United States from October 9th to 12th and met with President Clinton, Secretary Albright, Secretary Cohen, and other senior U.S. officials. And then last week, to give further impetus to improving U.S.-DPRK dialogue, Chairman Kim Jong-Il's special envoy, Vice Marshal Jo Myong Rok, Traveled to the United States from October 9th to 12th and met with President Clinton, Secretary Albright, Secretary Cohen, and other senior U.S. officials. And then last week, to give further impetus to improving U.S.-DPRK relations, strengthening security in the Asia-Pacific region, and reinforcing North-South reconciliation and to help prepare for a possible trip to North Korea by President Clinton, Secretary of State Albright visited Pyongyang and spent many hours with Chairman Kim and other senior DPRK officials engaged in detailed, substantive discussions on a wide range of issues. Serious progress was made, including on missile issues, but much work remains to be done. A U.S.-DPRK Joint Communiqu?issued October 12th at the time of Vice Marshal Jo's visit to Washington noted agreement by the two sides that "resolution of the missile issue would make an essential contribution to a fundamentally improved relationship between them and to peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region." The communiqu?also noted that the DPRK will not launch long-range missiles of any kind while talks on the missile issue continue. Talks this week will build on the serious discussions held last week between Secretary Albright and Chairman Kim. We will be focusing on all aspects of the missile issue, including the DPRK's indigenous missile programs, its missile-related exports, and Chairman Kim's idea of exchanging serious DPRK restraint in missiles for launches of DPRK satellites. For our part, the U.S. will seek solutions that promote nonproliferation and regional and global security, and that help move U.S.-DPRK relations forward. Finally, I wish to thank the Government of Malaysia for allowing us to meet again in Kuala Lumpur, which historically has been a place conducive to progress on key issues involving the U.S. and DPRK. I hope this positive record augurs well for our talks this week. (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov) Return to the Washington File