U.S. - North Korea

North Korea Should Focus on Six-Party Talks

Sean McCormack, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs

Daily Press Briefing
Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
March 28, 2008

Spokesman McCormack (Mar. 28): "North Korea should refrain from any of these kinds of missile launches. ...We would hope that they would direct their energies towards fulfilling their obligations under the Six-Party Talks, and as they are fulfilling their obligations under the Six-Party Talks then we, as well as others involved in the Six-Party Talks, are prepared to fulfill our obligations."

TRANSCRIPT:
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12:55 p.m. EDT

MR. MCCORMACK: Afternoon, guys. I have to shout to project back to those in the back of the room. I don’t have anything to start off with, so the floor is open.

QUESTION: There are reports saying that the U.S. is – the South Korean Foreign Minister has said that the U.S. is talking about providing 500,000 tons of food to North Korea?

MR. MCCORMACK: No updates on our humanitarian assistance at this point.

QUESTION: But can you confirm that or --

MR. MCCORMACK: No.

QUESTION: Do you have a response to the North Korean missile launches?

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, first of all, it is important to note that North Korea should refrain from any of these kinds of missile launches. It’s – their energies are probably best directed in other areas. But as far as our information goes, this was part of their normal or usual military exercises. And that said, they should refrain from these kinds of activities. We would hope that they would direct their energies towards fulfilling their obligations under the six-party talks, and as they are fulfilling their obligations under the six-party talks then we, as well as others involved in the six-party talks, are prepared to fulfill our obligations.

Yes, sir.
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