Comments to Reporters Upon Arrival at Narita Airport

QUESTION: First of all, how was the Six-Party Talks? Could you please sum up?

A/S HILL: Well, we think it was a successful negotiating session. But we’re mindful we have a long way to go. We thought it was an important first step. So I think we can take some momentum from it and hope that we can make some progress further on. But certainly what we accomplished, I think, it's important to get the reactor shut down and sealed for the purpose of abandonment, get the IAEA in there, start discussing the list of all nuclear programs to be abandoned pursuant to the joint statement. We got the working groups going.

There are five working groups, and we're very pleased that all of those, including the DPRK-Japan working group, are required to start within the first 30 days and that all of these events will take place in 60 days. And then, because the DPRK wanted additional fuel oil, we agreed that we could go with the additional fuel oil provided it got us into the next phase -- the next phase being the disablement and declaration phase.

So I think it was a good week, but I must tell you it was a very tiring week. And it's rather unusual, but I really am looking forward to that long flight back to Washington so I can do some sleeping.

QUESTION: Speaking of working groups, do you expect any advancements in DPRK and Japanese -- ?

A/S HILL: Well, I personally had a number of conversations with the DPRK about their relationship with Japan. First of all, no one needs a mediator there. They need to get together directly. But it seems to me fairly obvious that the DPRK needs a good relationship with Japan, and the first step to doing that is to sit down systematically through a working group and cover these issues, these bilateral issues. So I was pleased that a day before, actually, the talks ended there was already a meeting of the Japanese and DPRK delegations. So I took a little encouragement from that, and it's my hope to see the working group get going and the two countries able to resolve some of these issues.

QUESTION: What about abduction issue?

A/S HILL: Well, obviously I'm referring to that.

QUESTION: Japanese are saying that they can't support the removing of the designation of a state sponsor of terrorism without progress on the abduction issue.

A/S HILL: I understand that. What we are committed to is to beginning a process. We have a number of bilateral issues ourselves, and we are committed to -- Just as you and the DPRK will have a working group, we and the DPRK will have a working group, and we are committed to beginning the process also to address these issues. So we all have a lot of work to do, and we'll see if we can get it all done.

QUESTION: Mr. Hill, IAEA is preparing for coming inspections. Have you heard any schedule about that?

A/S HILL: I know that there have been a number of discussions with the IAEA, a very professional organization.

QUESTION: With the DPRK?

A/S HILL: No, I'm aware that we have had discussions with the IAEA. I'm sure that when the time comes -- and it's coming soon -- that the IAEA will go back in. I'm sure they'll know what to do. And then, as for the assistance program, I think we have worked out a plan, and we'll have to do more in the energy assistance working group. But I think this is going to require a lot of hard work, of course, but also some imagination and flexibility from all.

QUESTION: Sorry to ask you this, but some so-called conservatives are saying the DPRK will break the promise as they did in the past, so they don't like this agreement. What is your response to that?

A/S HILL: First of all, you needn't apologize ever for asking a question. Secondly, I expect to hear criticism, and that's fine. Everyone has a right to criticize. To be sure, the history of negotiating with the DPRK is not always a happy history. Often there have been problems in the negotiating process. And that is the central reason why it is our strong belief that our model of having a multilateral approach -- a multilateral approach that, within the multilateral approach, includes very necessary bilateral contacts -- is the correct model to try to ensure that everyone lives up to their obligations.

So in the past there were agreements where it was only two sides. And in this case, I think everyone can be a guarantor that the agreement gets lived up to. Of course, that's been a problem in the past. But I think, like a lot of things in life, you have to consider the alternative. And I think pursuing a strong, a robust diplomacy together with other countries very much interested in the outcome, including China – And, by the way, I would say that the Six-Party Talks have been very good for China-Japan relations, because there have been so many discussions, so many contacts, and really so much cooperation. I think that will augur well for Japan's relationship with China. So we'll have to see.

QUESTION: Do you have any comment about Japan withholding the initial 50,000 tons -- ?

A/S HILL: We completely understand Japan's position on that. We have been in very close contact with Japan throughout this process. We knew precisely what the situation was for Japan on this. What's important in diplomacy is to have close consultations so you don't have any surprises. There are no surprises there.

QUESTION: In relation to that question, you’re certain that it's not going to be an obstacle for the future progress?

A/S HILL: No. I think what we need to see -- Our Six-Party process is an ambitious process, because we are addressing more than just denuclearization, although that clearly is probably the most important element of it. But we’re addressing a lot more. We’re trying to deal with some of the underlying problems in the region. And so, that is why for us it was so important to set up these working groups -- and, in particular, very important to set up the Japan-DPRK working group and to make sure that that working group was among the others, that is, in its requirement that it start within a 30-day period.

So, if you don't mind, I'd like to go off-duty for a bit.

QUESTION: When are you leaving Japan?

A/S HILL: As soon as they can put some gas in the airplane and get it moving, but I think it will be in a few hours actually. So I plan to go read the sports page.

QUESTION: Matsuzaka?

A/S HILL: Well, you know the equipment truck from Boston, where they carry all the bats and gloves and balls -- the equipment truck left Boston a couple of days ago, and it's en route to Florida. That means for us a real turning of the season. So, looking forward to it.

OK?