Remarks to Journalists after Meeting with Foreign Minister Aso

So it was a very good discussion, and I look forward to going to Beijing tomorrow. Throughout the day, I’ve had a very good opportunity to hear firsthand the views from the Japanese Government of its hopes and expectations for the next round. And I think it’s especially important that the U.S. and Japan continue to work very, very closely, as we are in, I think, a very important phase of this Six-Party process.

QUESTION: Did Foreign Minister Aso [inaudible] the abduction issue and possible economic support?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Well, you know, we talked about all the elements that we might try to get accomplished. We also agreed that it’s not enough just to get a first tranche of issues. We need to complete the implementation of the Joint Statement, and that of course means addressing the bilateral issues. And it also of course means the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. So we had a very full discussion about all of those issues.

QUESTION: Sir, how do you assess, do you see the timeframe for action on these issues, like, within a few weeks, or within…

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: I didn’t want to tell you precisely, but I think I used a formula of single-digit weeks. So we will – Whatever timeframe we choose, I think it’ll be a very busy timeframe because we have a lot to do. It’s not easy to begin implementation. Up until now, it’s been all a question of pieces of paper such as declarations and statements. Starting in Beijing, I think we’re going to be talking about implementation. That means real things happening to real people on the ground. We’ll see how we do.

So, it’s been a really good opportunity to be here in Tokyo, to have the chance to talk to Japanese officials. But next time I come to Tokyo, I’d like to talk about more than just the Six-Party Talks, talk more about the U.S.-Japan relationship, and maybe, if possible, I’d like to get outside Tokyo and visit some of these other very beautiful Japanese cities and meet with other Japanese people. And maybe, just maybe, go to a baseball game.

So, thank you very much.

QUESTION: One more question. Tomorrow, is it true that you’ll be meeting with North Korea?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Tomorrow, I think I’m having a bilateral meeting with the Chinese. I think I’m meeting the Russians. Certainly, there will be a bilateral meeting with the North Korean delegation very soon, but I can’t say it’ll be tomorrow. I think that it’s going to be sometime on Thursday or something.

OK.

QUESTION: One more quick question –

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: One more question! (Laughter.)

QUESTION: Regarding the abduction issue, like what kind of areas of cooperation would the U.S. offer?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: I think, as we’ve discussed before, it’s very important that there should be a mechanism for dealing with Japan and DPRK’s outstanding concerns. So I think the first step would be to try to identify a mechanism where this issue and other issues can be resolved.

OK. See you later; bye-bye.