*EPF113 09/09/2002
Text: U.S. and Allies Note Improvements in Pyongyang's Attitude
(Trilateral Coordination and Oversight Group joint statement) (560)

U.S., South Korean and Japanese officials meeting in Seoul, South Korea September 7 noted that the communist regime in Pyongyang had recently shown an inclination toward international engagement.

State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher on September 9 released the joint statement of the Trilateral Coordination and Oversight Group, which acknowledged "the more constructive attitude recently shown by North Korea in its talks with the international community."

The statement added that the Japanese and U.S. delegations "reaffirmed their support for President Kim Dae-jung's policy of engagement, and welcomed the outcome of recent inter-Korean talks held in Seoul."

The delegations from the three allies said they shared the view that "that faithful implementation of agreements is essential to further improving the South-North relationship." The joint statement also reaffirmed the United States' readiness to hold comprehensive and unconditional talks with North Korea.

Following is the text of the September 7 joint statement by the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

Press Statement
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Washington, DC

September 9, 2002

Korea -- Trilateral Coordination and Oversight Group Joint Statement

The following joint statement by the U.S., Japan, and Republic of Korea was released in Seoul on September 7, 2002.

Begin Text:

"The delegations of the Republic of Korea (ROK), the United States of America, and Japan, headed respectively by Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Lee Tae-sik, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James A. Kelly and Director-General of Asian and Oceanian Affairs Hitoshi Tanaka, held this year's fourth ROK-U.S.-Japan Trilateral Coordination and Oversight Group (TCOG) meeting in Seoul on September 7, 2002.

The three delegations reconfirmed the importance of the international community's engagement of North Korea. In this regard, they recognized the more constructive attitude recently shown by North Korea in its talks with the international community.

The U.S. and Japanese delegations reaffirmed their support for President Kim Dae-jung's policy of engagement, and welcomed the outcome of recent inter-Korean talks held in Seoul. In this connection, the three delegations shared the view that faithful implementation of agreements is essential to further improving the South-North relationship.

The ROK and U.S. delegations welcomed the recent progress in the talks between Japan and North Korea. In particular, they expressed their strong support for Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to North Korea, which they hope will contribute to the improvement of Japan-DPRK relations and the promotion of regional stability in Northeast Asia.

The ROK and Japanese delegations expressed their support for US-DPRK dialogue to resolve their respective issues of concern. The U.S. delegation reaffirmed the United States' readiness to hold comprehensive and unconditional talks with North Korea.

The three delegations reconfirmed their desire to address long-standing issues involving North Korea, including its missile and weapons of mass destruction programs, through dialogue. They also expressed their desire for a humanitarian resolution to the North Korean refugee issue.

Highlighting the importance of improved implementation of the 1994 Agreed Framework, the three delegations noted progress being made on the reactor project, as witnessed by the first concrete-pouring ceremony held recently, and called on North Korea to move forward promptly to begin full cooperation with the IAEA.

The three delegations reiterated that continued close consultations and trilateral coordination remain vital to the success of their individual efforts and agreed to hold the next round of trilateral consultations in the near future to further coordinate their respective policies toward North Korea."

(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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