ANNOUNCEMENTS SOUTH KOREA Third Round of U.S.-South Korean Task Force on Non- Proliferation ......................................... 5-6 Reported Development of Long-Range Missile by S. Korea . 6 CHINA Nuclear Cooperation with Pakistan ...................... 16-17 --MTCR Commitments/U.S. Sanctions ...................... 16 NORTH KOREA Congressman Richardson's Report to the Department ...... 17
QUESTION: The South Koreans are supposedly in the building today, talking to U.S. officials about military matters. Do you have anything to say about that?
MR BURNS: Yes. The third round of the U.S.-South Korean Task Force on Non-Proliferation -- the third round of talks -- is being held today and tomorrow at the State Department. Our delegation is headed by our Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and our expert on these issues, Bob Einhorn.
There will be discussions on a variety of issues, including our bilateral and multilateral cooperation on non-proliferation of missiles and on weapons of mass destruction. Our shared objective: that the Republic of Korea, South Korea, might now become a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime and the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. So it's a very important meeting going on. This follows the excellent meeting that the President had with President Kim and Secretary Christopher had with Minister Yoo, the new South Korean Foreign Minister, last week in Manila.
QUESTION: Do you have anything to say about the Washington Times' story today about development of a long-range missile by the South Koreans?
MR BURNS: I don't. I think I'm going to make a tactical decision today, and that is not to reward the Washington Times for yet again publishing information that is leaked to them by somebody in the U.S. Government based on highly classified intelligence information.
QUESTION: The Chinese government stated rather plainly yesterday that they were going to go ahead with their nuclear cooperation with Pakistan. Do you have a response?
MR BURNS: Well, as you know, this issue of Chinese sales of items to Pakistan has been in our -- on our agenda with China for a long time. It was specifically discussed by Secretary Christopher in some detail in Beijing with Minister Qian.
As I said that week in answer to press questions, we have no indication -- no indications to us -- no information available to us -- that China has violated its May 11th commitment to the United States pertaining to assistance to unsafeguarded nuclear facilities. And we will continue to keep this issue on our agenda with the Chinese. We'll talk to them at every opportunity.
Now I know that China has made an announcement that somehow it's going to continue its support for peaceful nuclear cooperation to Pakistan. It's long-standing United States policy that the United States does not participate in or encourage in any way any kind of nuclear trade or nuclear cooperation even with -- even with safeguarded facilities in Pakistan.
We think that it's best that China refrain from any type of nuclear cooperation with Pakistan.
Now the other question that usually comes up is, has China violated its MTCR commitment -- or MTCR commitments, U. S. sanctions law, the May 11th commitment? And on that question, I want to be very clear. We have no indication that China has done so.
But the other point that I am making is that we don't think it's wise, given the record here, and given the allegations that have been made, even to engage in peaceful nuclear cooperation with safeguarded nuclear facilities.
QUESTION: Were you surprised by yesterday's announcement, having just discussed this with them?
MR BURNS: I can't say I was surprised by it because, you know, we don't always see eye-to-eye with the Chinese on this particular issue.
Yes, sir.
QUESTION: North Korea. Did you hear from -- anything from Congressman Richardson on resumption of the nuclear -- I'm sorry -- missile talk, or any other issues?
MR BURNS: I don't have anything to announce in the way of resumption of the missile talks with North Korea. We did receive a very interesting debrief from Congressman Richardson, which we will keep mainly private. You'll understand why.
But he did a very good thing by going over there to Pyongyang and securing the release of Mr. Hunziker, and we are very glad that Mr. Hunziker is back with his family in the northwest.