*EPF207 03/14/00
Transcript: Albright, Korean Foreign Minister March 13 Remarks
(U.S.-Republic of Korea alliance "is stronger than ever") (2240)

U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright and Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Lee Joung-Binn said Lee's visit to Washington has underscored the continuing strength of their two countries' alliance, while giving the two countries an opportunity to discuss issues ranging from North Korean refugees to binational worker paychecks.

Speaking at the U.S. Department of State March 13 after signing a new bilateral social security agreement and administrative arrangement, Albright and Lee said the pact would enable workers who divide their careers between the two countries to keep more of what they earn, ensure that there will be no gaps in their retirement coverage, while also substantially reducing financial burdens on the U.S. and Korean business communities.

Both said that "quiet diplomacy" was the most suitable tactic in dealing with the problem of North Korean refugees located in countries such as China and Russia, and that the issue of North Korean terrorism was still of great concern.

Albright reaffirmed to Lee America's commitment to the Republic of Korea's defense, support for Korean President Kim Dae Jung's policy of engagement with North Korea, and acknowledgment of the centrality of the North-South dialogue to the establishment of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

At the same time, Lee reaffirmed the Republic of Korea's support for the Agreed Framework, KEDO, and the Perry process of reevaluating the U.S. stance with regard to North Korean relations.

Following is a transcript of Albright's and Lee's remarks:

(begin transcript)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

March 13, 2000

REMARKS BY U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT
AND REPUBLIC OF KOREA FOREIGN MINISTER LEE JOUNG-BINN
AT SIGNING CEREMONY
FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENT

Treaty Room
U.S. Department of State

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Good afternoon, everybody. As many of you know, Foreign Minister Lee was appointed in January and, given the importance of the relationship between our two countries, we agreed to meet as soon as possible. Our consultations today confirmed that the alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States is stronger than ever. The Social Security agreement that the Foreign Minister and I just signed will enhance our already strong economic partnership. It will enable the American and Korean workers, who divide their careers between our two countries, to keep more of what they earn and ensure that there will be no gaps in their retirement coverage.

This afternoon, Foreign Minister Lee and I reviewed the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and I reaffirmed America's commitment to South Korea's defense. The United States strongly supports President Kim Dae Jung's policy of engagement with North Korea, and we recognize the centrality of the North-South dialogue to the establishment of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

During our meeting, the Foreign Minister reaffirmed South Korea's support for the Agreed Framework, KEDO, and the Perry process, which are essential parts of our joint approach to the North. We also discussed the talks now underway in New York between Ambassador Kartman and the North Korean Vice Foreign Minister.

The United States and the Republic of Korea have closely consulted on our North Korea policies, along with Japan, and we will continue to do so.

Finally, the Foreign Minister and I reviewed plans for the Community of Democracies meeting that will take place in Warsaw at the end of June. This conference is a joint initiative by Korea, Poland, the Czech Republic, Chile, India, Mali and the United States, and we expect more than 100 nations to attend. We are fortunate that the Republic of Korea, which has set such an outstanding example through its own democratic transition, is helping to lead the way. And the Foreign Minister told me today that he will be there, which I am very pleased.

Foreign Minister Lee.

FOREIGN MINISTER LEE: Thank you. Good afternoon. I would first like to thank Madame Albright for her warm reception and hospitality at this time to me and my delegation. In my first meeting with Secretary Albright in my new capacity as the Foreign Minister, we had fruitful discussions on a broad range of issues between the Republic of Korea and the United States.

Today's meeting was a good opportunity to lay the foundation for a strong and sincere partnership with Secretary Albright. The US-Korea relations are as strong as ever. On the basis of our firm security alliance and the strong ties in trade, Korea and the United States have seen their relationship evolve into a more mature and comprehensive partnership deeply routed in the shared values of democracy and a market economy.

Secretary Albright and I also had in-depth discussions on ways to strengthen our policy coordination, vis-a-vis North Korea. In particular, we exchanged our views on ways to ensure smooth progress in the Perry process. We also discussed ways to further pursue Korea's proposal to resume talks between the authority of South and North Korea as expressed through President Kim's Berlin declarations.

In addition, we also touched upon various pending bilateral issues, as well as issues of common global and regional interests.

Today, Secretary Albright and I signed the Social Security agreement. This agreement has long been desired by both American and Korean business communities. By substantially reducing their financial burdens, the agreement will serve as a basis for broad exchange and cooperation between our business community.

Thank you very much.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, we're not hearing a lot about the talks in New York with North Korea. I wonder if you could tell us if Ambassador Sheehan has laid out now the particulars for North Korea's possible removal from the terrorism list? Has he explained what it is they must do? Could you give us any sense of how that or other items up in New York are progressing, please?

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well, first of all, in the talks that Ambassador Kartman has been having, they have taken a pause to have consultations with capitals, and we expect that they will pick up again very soon.

On Ambassador Sheehan, he has had an introductory meeting and has made clear our interests in dealing with issues of terrorism and the steps that need to be taken. So those talks are just beginning, but I think we've made very clear the importance of them.

QUESTION: Could I just ask if that subject will come up again after this pause, or is that basically -- on terrorism?

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I'm sure. It's part of an ongoing process.

QUESTION: As you know well, there are lots of -- thousands of North Korean now floating nearby the North Korean border. They are now in China. But so far, I do not have specific knowledge about the position or explicit policy regarding those refugees. They may not be political refugees, but they at least risked their lives. They're in China for their lives.

So what would be your exact and explicit position on those refugees? You may say considering that it's a sensitive issue, you may say both of Korea and US need so-called silent diplomacy. But thinking about the lives and the significance over the regional stability, I'd like to hear what would be the exact sound of that silence?

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: This is to me?

QUESTION: Both of you.

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well, let me say that, generally, we are in very close consultations on all the issues that concern relations between North and South and in moving the process forward. We also have spoken out quite a lot about the importance of human rights in China and treating all individuals with respect, and that would apply to everyone involved.

FOREIGN MINISTER LEE: Well, this North Korean refugee problem is one of the delicate problems, and what we are concerned with is to secure their safety. And when they want to come to Korea, South Korea, we are ready to receive all of them and let them live in a free society.

But the problem is they do not come directly from North Korea to South. They come through third countries such as Russia or China, and here we have some delicate problem with third countries.

So as Secretary Albright mentioned, I think the most important thing is how to secure them. And I think in this regard, the quiet diplomacy I think is one of the most desirable tactics.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, I would like to turn this a little further afield. Shortly after the Iranian elections, the State Department said that it was looking at -- or the Administration in general said it was looking at appropriate measures to take to perhaps ease or help push along the reform movement there. And today, as you obviously know, the White House has renewed sanctions on Iran despite a lot of speculation that some of them at least would be eased.

Does today's decision mean that the US is no longer looking at taking appropriate responses to the Iranian election?

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: As I have said a number of times, we continue to follow developments in Iran very closely. We are interested in the number -- the huge voter turnouts for the Majlis, the way that the election went. I have said a number of times that we are interested in having a government-to-government dialogue on issues of concern to us, and the issues are the whole problem of the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction, support for terrorism and lack of support for the Middle East peace process.

At the same time, as I've said, we are following it very closely and looking at what this all signifies. I think in terms of where US-Iranian relations might lead, I had some very interesting discussions when I was in Europe. Foreign Minister Fischer had just been in Iran. He was telling me about his trip. A number of Foreign Minister colleagues had been there, and we continue to be very interested in what's going on.

QUESTION: Minister Lee, could you comment on the possibility of a North and South summit meeting and, if positive, when and what kind of agenda do you have?

FOREIGN MINISTER LEE: Can you repeat one more time? You mentioned a summit meeting?

QUESTION: Yes, between South and North.

FOREIGN MINISTER LEE: Well, we have not yet proposed formally a summit meeting to North Korea and in the Berlin Declarations, President Kim mentioned the government-to-government level talks to take up the economic cooperation.

And if the South-North relations improve as desired, I think we can think about the summit talks with North Korea, but I think it is not the right time to propose the summit talks. We have to wait.

QUESTION: The first question is for Foreign Minister Lee. As you well understand, the United States is now currently trying to decide whether or not North Korea should be removed from the list of state-sponsored terrorists. Does the South Korean Government believe that such a move would be appropriate? Is there any evidence, to the best of your knowledge that North Korea is continuing to sponsor acts of terrorism either against the South or other governments?

And for Secretary Albright, are you satisfied in your conversations with Foreign Minister Lee that the South Korean Government has stopped its program to develop short-range missiles? Did that come up during your talks?

FOREIGN MINISTER LEE: Well, about the North Korean terrorist acts, I think this matter should be talked in general terms to prevent the terrorist acts. And, of course, in the past we had -- we became the terrorist act by North Korea in the past. But during the last few years, I think we didn't have such, you know (inaudible) and I think in the context to prevent the terrorist I think this problem should be discussed in that context.

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Foreign Minister Lee and I did discuss generally the subject of the Republic of Korea's defense needs, which is something that we obviously talk about every time and have committed a great deal to in all the years. We talked about the fact that we will be commemorating the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War and the very close defense relationships that we have had.

We will continue to work, obviously, with the Republic of Korea in making sure that their defense needs are met. At the same time, we had a discussion about the fact that our nonproliferation agenda is very important to both our countries. It's a shared objective. And so we talked about defense needs and missiles in those two contexts.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, the US has been plagued with high gas and oil prices for a couple of months. You and others in this Administration went to other countries and asked them to speed up their production. Are you satisfied with what has been done by the oil-producing countries?

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well, we obviously are very concerned about what is happening with the oil prices. We have been having ongoing discussions, a lot of conversations. We need to have stable and moderate oil prices. And the countries will meet at the end of the month to decide about oil production levels, and we are hopeful that our needs will be met.

(end transcript)

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