Embassy of the United States Seoul Korea

Singapore
December 5, 2008

QUESTION:  (inaudible)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  I think we’re meeting them at ten o’clock again at the U.S. Embassy.  I don’t think we have a schedule for how long it will be.

QUESTION:  Do you have any indication of how long it will be?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  I don’t think we do.  We’re -- we just agreed we’d meet in the morning.  And it could be very briefly; I just don’t know.

QUESTION:  Do you have any plans for a working dinner tonight?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  No, I don’t.

QUESTION:  On the schedule, like were (inaudible) the Singaporeans?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  No, unfortunately.  I had another scheduled, but I -- my meeting was cancelled.  So as soon as we’re done here, we might look into when we are leaving for Seoul.

QUESTION:  Can you give us a sense - one brief question about the meeting with the Singaporeans yesterday - what was the (inaudible) and the energy assistance issue was discussed?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  Well, you know, we raised a lot of issues related to regional matters, including ASEAN and the U.S. bilateral relationship with Singapore.  Our ambassador from - the U.S. ambassador to Singapore - also took part.  And, you know, we talked about Burma and other things like that.  So not so much -- I gave a little briefing on the North Korea situation and talked a little bit about transition in the U.S.

QUESTION: So you did not (inaudible) about the energy assistance?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  No, we talked -- no, we talked more generally about (inaudible) the six  parties.

QUESTION:  What was (inaudible)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  Oh, I think it’s the same topics as yesterday: fuel, disablement, and verification.

QUESTION:  Are you trying to talk about the sampling issue?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: What issue?

QUESTION:  Sampling issue.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  Sampling issue.  What do you mean by that?

QUESTION:  I mean the scientific verification.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  Oh, scientific procedures.  I see.  Yes, that issue did come up.  Okay?

QUESTION:  Do you think North Korea will come back (inaudible)?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  I’m sorry?

QUESTION:  Do you think North Korea will come back (inaudible)?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  I don’t know.  I know that -- you know, I explained to them what our view is.  And it was very useful to have the trilateral meeting in Tokyo because I was able to convey the views that we have and, I think, views that are supported within the Six-Party process.  So, I think they have a clear understanding of what we need in terms of how to go forward.

QUESTION:  So the understanding that (inaudible) is still there (inaudible)?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  Oh, yeah.  The issue is not the verification.  The issue is how to express it in a piece of paper ahead of time, so there are no misunderstandings when the time comes.

QUESTION:  And about this paper, you’re on the same page (inaudible)?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  We’ll see.  I think so, we’ll see.  Okay.