*EPF405 10/12/00
Text: Secretary of State Albright to Visit Pyongyang
(Calls moment in bilateral relations "rich with opportunity") (660)
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will go to North Korea "soon," according to her remarks at an October 11 dinner hosted by North Korea's Vice Marshall Jo Myong Rok.
"I appreciate that we have agreed that I will travel to Pyongyang soon," Albright said on the third day of the visit to Washington, D.C. by Jo, special envoy of Pyongyang's ruler Kim Jong Il.
The Secretary of State said she looked forward to "a future of peace and mutual security between our two countries and throughout the Korean Peninsula from the Tumen River to the Korea Strait."
Following is the text of the Secretary's remarks, as delivered:
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release
October 11, 2000
TOAST REMARKS BY SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT
AT THE DINNER HOSTED BY THE PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Mayflower Hotel
Washington, D.C.
Mr. Vice Marshal, Mr. First Vice Foreign Minister, excellencies from the delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, good evening. On behalf of my colleagues and myself, I thank you very, very much for your hospitality tonight.
President Clinton has received an important message from Chairman Kim Jong Il. I am very pleased at how much work we have been able to do in the short time you have been here. You have had an opportunity to exchange views with the President, and we have had an opportunity to get to know one another.
I hope that this sets the standard for future visits, and I appreciate that we have agreed that I will travel to Pyongyang soon. I will have more to say about that tomorrow, but I would like to say now how much I look forward to visiting your country and meeting with Chairman Kim Jong Il. That visit will allow for further discussions on regional security issues and other matters of mutual concern. President Clinton very much wants to work with Chairman Kim Jong Il to improve the relationship.
This is a moment on the Korean Peninsula and in our bilateral relations that is rich with opportunity, and we would be poor diplomats indeed if we failed to seize them. Your visit this week has convinced us that your side shares this view and is ready to move forward with us to remove the obstacles to better and more normal ties.
This is important because our bilateral discussions can be a vital source of support to the process of North-South engagement launched during the historic summit in Pyongyang, and to the progress made through the Four Party Talks.
There is nothing inevitable about the tensions that exist between our two countries, or on the Korean Peninsula, or in the region. We have a chance now, together, to write a new chapter in history for the benefit of our societies and neighbors throughout the Asia Pacific.
This will not happen overnight. But I hope we will vow tonight to do all we can to keep moving in the direction of less distrust and greater confidence, fewer areas of disagreement and more common ground.
In closing, I want to express my appreciation again to the Chairman's Special Envoy and to all of our visitors from the DPRK. I hope you have enjoyed your time in Washington, and will have opportunities in the future to come and stay for a longer period. We have certainly enjoyed having you here.
I want to thank you once more for your courtesy and hospitality here this evening.
And I invite everyone to join me in a toast to a future of peace and mutual security between our two countries and throughout the Korean Peninsula from the Tumen River to the Korea Strait.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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