Fourth Round of Six-Party Talks: Morning Transit St. Regis Hotel

A/S HILL: Well, let me just say we are going to – this morning we will go over to the site and we are planning to have a meeting of the heads of delegation to access where we are. As you know, there was a lengthy session yesterday based on the second draft provided by the Chinese hosts. We felt the second draft was actually better than the first draft. It clearly reflected the comments of all the parties and we continue to believe it is a basis for finding an eventual resolution. I must say, to be very frank, there are a lot of differences and these certainly came out over the course of the twelve or so hours of negotiations. We are very much committed to negotiating to working through dialogue but I need to be very clear there were a lot of differences between the North Korean side on the one hand and everyone else on the other hand. So clearly there are a lot issues to be worked on but we will be talking especially with our Chinese hosts. In fact, I have a meeting with the head of the Chinese delegation first thing when I get over there and then I will talk to the rest of the parties and see where we go.

QUESTION: Is it easy to talk to North Korea?

A/S HILL: Well it is easy to talk to them. That’s true, very easy to talk.

QUESTION: There is not a problem in negotiating with them?

A/S HILL: It’s a no problem to talk, no problem to listen, sometimes a problem to reach understanding.

QUESTION: Will there be a third draft today?

A/S HILL: I don’t know, that is up to the Chinese hosts. They produced a second draft late Sunday night. It was circulated Monday morning. Yesterday there were a lot of discussions on it. The Chinese are working very hard. I would say their team is really excellent; we are very appreciative of what they are doing there. I don’t know where we will go with this, but one thing I know that has already been determined is that the United States and China can work very well together on issues that are mutually very important. That, of course, is symbolized not only by the six-party process but by the fact that our Deputy Secretary of State is here Bob Zoellick dealing on other issues with the Chinese. So we are doing very well with China.

QUESTION: What is the schedule today?

A/S HILL: Well the schedule today is I will meet the Chinese delegation for some bilateral discussions and then we will have a meeting with all the six-parties in a head of delegation meeting.

QUESTION: Will you have a North Korea bilateral meeting?

A/S HILL: Don’t have any planned I met with them yesterday. Frankly, we were not able to bridge any differences so I wish I could report more progress. Monday should be a day where everyone is rested from the weekend. Of course, no one is feeling rested these days but unfortunately we were not able to get very far. Maybe today, better weather, let’s see how we do. Thank you very much.