U.S. Relations With the People's Republic of China (2008)

U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
January 18, 2008

11:58 a.m. EST

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: And what -- can I ask one more thing? Turn back to North Korea and Jay Lefkowitz's comments, has the Department made any contact with China and South Korea in relation to --

MR. MCCORMACK: I'm not sure. I know Deputy Secretary Negroponte is in Beijing. I don't know if he spoke to them about it or not. But I think they -- they usually tune in one form or another to what we say in public. So I don't know if we'll communicate that privately. I'd assume we probably will.

QUESTION: Is it embarrassing that he went out there and said that? I mean, does it make your job that much more difficult?

MR. MCCORMACK: Sue, there are so many things that make my job difficult. That is way down on the list, let me tell you that.

All right. Thanks.

(The briefing was concluded at 12:26 p.m.)