*EPF304 02/25/2004
Text: Six-Party Talks Promote Korean Peace, Kelly Says
(Assistant secretary's Feb. 25 remarks in Beijing) (620)

The multilateral forum known as the Six-Party Talks provides the "surest diplomatic means of promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly said in introductory remarks as a second round of the talks opened in Beijing on February 25.

The countries involved in the Six-Party Talks are the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and North Korea.

Kelly reiterated that the United States "seeks the complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement" of all nuclear programs in North Korea, including both plutonium- and uranium-based weapons. To support this goal, the assistant secretary stressed the United States' willingness to "join with other parties in providing security assurance" to North Korea.

"Resolution of the nuclear issue will facilitate resolution of important bilateral issues ... and thus open up the prospect of fully normalized relations among all of the six parties," Kelly said. He expressed hope that the new round of talks would achieve concrete progress.

Following is a transcript of the assistant secretary's remarks provided by the United States Embassy in Beijing:

(begin text)

U.S. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS:
BY JAMES KELLY
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS

DAY ONE OF THE SECOND ROUND OF SIX-PARTY TALKS
February 25, 2004

The United States is pleased to participate in the second round of six-party talks in Beijing.

I would like to express my Government's appreciation to the Government of the People's Republic of China for again hosting these talks, and to vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Ambassadors Fu Ying and Ning Fukui and other Chinese officials for their personal efforts.

The United States is convinced that this multilateral forum provides the surest diplomatic means of promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula by ensuring its nuclear weapons-free status.

It is not only our six governments that are deeply interested in this issue. The peace, stability, and prosperity of Northeast Asia, which is a major world population, cultural, economic and trading nexus, are of great importance to the international community as a whole. Of no less importance is the need to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in order to protect the international community.

The United States seeks the complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement of all of the DPRK's nuclear programs, both plutonium- and uranium-based weapons. In that context, as President Bush stated last fall, the United States is prepared to join with other parties in providing security assurance to the DPRK. President Bush has also made clear that United States has no intention of invading or attacking the DPRK. This remains the policy of the United States.

Resolution of the nuclear issue will facilitate resolution of important bilateral issues among the parties and thus open up the prospect of fully normalized relations among all of the six parties. That, in turn, will help to ensure not only the peace but also the prosperity of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia as a whole.

The first round of six-party talks provided the opportunity for governments directly concerned with the Korean Peninsula, and the nuclear issue in particular, to state their positions authoritatively before all of the other parties. This created a solid baseline from which we can work together to fashion a diplomatic solution to the problem.

We look forward to positive and productive discussion in this round. We hope that, together, we can achieve concrete progress and lay the basis for further progress in the weeks and months to come.

Again, Mr. Vice Minister, allow me to express the United States' appreciation for China's hosting of these important talks.

(end text)

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

Return to Public File Main Page

Return to Public Table of Contents