U.S. Relations With the People's Republic of China (2006)

U.S. Department of State

Comments to Reporters Upon Arrival at Narita Airport

Christopher Hill, Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Narita Airport
Tokyo, Japan
December 16, 2006

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Well, it's a pleasure to be back here in Japan, in Tokyo. I'll be going to see my counterpart, Mr. Ken Sasae. And we'll have some discussions to continue our preparations for the next round of talks, which begin tomorrow night in Beijing. So we have worked very hard in the last month to get ready for these talks. We've certainly reviewed all our positions, and our purpose in getting to these talks, as I've said before, is not to talk; it is really to begin to implement the September statement, to move from the pages of the statement onto the ground. So let's see if all our preparations can lead to some real progress this week.

QUESTION: And the DPRK's nuclear envoy Kim said in Beijing today that lifting sanctions must come first. How do you react to that?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Well, I think Mr. Kim knows well what the status of the UN sanctions are. I think he knows very well what the resolution is. And I think he also knows very well what we're trying to do is achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and I hope he's given some thought to that.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: Last time you came here you said the ball is in the North Koreans' court. But . . .

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Well, the ball is in the North Koreans' court. They got back to the Chinese, and on the basis of what the Chinese heard, the Chinese asked if the other participants could come to Beijing for the start of talks. So we were informed by the Chinese that in the view of the Chinese we could make progress, and they base that view on their meetings with the parties, including with the DPRK.

QUESTION: Kim Gye Gwan said they have already stated all their demands in the Beijing talks in the last round.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Well, I think we had a good discussion, and I gave him some ideas of things that we want to get accomplished, and let's see if they're ready to do that.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: Mr. Wu is meeting with Sasae-san in Beijing together. Why are you so concerned about Japan?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Well, I like Tokyo. But Mr. Sasae asked if I could stop here. He felt it would be useful to meet with him and some members of his team, but also some of the other officials here in Tokyo, so I think I have a program tonight which will have several elements. I think the Embassy is maybe better informed than I am about precisely what my program is. But tomorrow morning I depart and go to Beijing.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

Released on December 17, 2006