Remarks to the Press on the Six-Party Talks

QUESTION: Timing of the Six-Party Talks - I think you said, like, mid-July?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: It’s going to depend to some extent on how the IAEA is doing. The IAEA is going to be there next week. Presumably, they’ll take about a week to figure out how to monitor the shutdown. Then they need to set up their more permanent teams there, and we need to sequence in some Six-Party Talks. Obviously, we don’t to be having the Six-Party Talks to discuss the IAEA; we’d rather discuss the next phase. We have to work on some of these timing issues. So I don’t think I can get that much more specific than what I’ve said.

QUESTION: I thought you said earlier today -

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: I’m doing my best. Early July; I’d like it be early July because we’d like to have enough time to prepare for the ministerial.

QUESTION: Sasae-san said that the real Six-Party Talks should be held after the initial phase is implemented, but do you agree with that?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Yeah, I basically agree with that. We don’t want to sit down at Six-Party Talks while we haven’t completed the initial phase. But whether we can have some sort of informal process is hard to say. It’s really a work in progress. I think everyone is very focused on the IAEA and what the IAEA needs to get done. I mean, that much is kind of a hard deadline, and I think they’re going to start that next week.

QUESTION: With respect to the BDA issue -

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: What issue?

QUESTION: BDA. Where have you heard that the money has been transferred today?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: We heard yesterday that it was all finished, and we haven’t heard confirmation that it’s been transferred, but we assume it has been.

QUESTION: The Russian Central Bank said it has been finished?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: As of yesterday, we understood that all the problems have been resolved. Look, I’m not an expert on the Russian financial or banking system. You have to ask them, but we know of no reason why it wouldn’t have been received by today.

QUESTION: So far, you haven’t heard from North Korea that they have got money, or….

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: No, but that’s not our concern. Our concern was getting the IAEA in there and getting the denuclearization process. We assume that the money should have been transferred today, but really, I’m not an expert on the Russian banking system.

QUESTION: This time, you really think that you have done everything you can do?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: I think that issue is done.

QUESTION: After speaking with the Koreans and Japanese, do you have any more specific idea of when the dates for the talks will be?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: I think we have some ideas on what we might do. Basically, we wanted to assess the situation and then to kind of lay out a vision for the future. So I think we’ll probably be thinking about what kind of ministerial statements do we put together.

QUESTION: North Korea launched a missile. How did you….

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Another army test. You know, I sort of wish they could launch a food program, too; but they seem to launch missile tests. Anyway, it’s another of their military tests that they have periodically.

QUESTION: Can you confirm it happened?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: No, I’ve only heard the press reports.

QUESTION: You don’t think it was a reaction to….

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: No, I think it’s just part of their schedule of military tests. I don’t think they’re timed for any particular provocation. I think it’s just what they do.

QUESTION: About the working group, did you say that Japan and North Korea working group is scheduled -

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: No, we haven’t scheduled any working groups, but we do need to do something about the working groups because they clearly did not finish their work.

QUESTION: Did you say the U.S. and North Korea working group is….

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  No. No; I see what you’re trying say, but nope, you’re wrong. No; our working group is in the same position as the Japan working group on schedules.

QUESTION: What does your schedule look like tomorrow?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: I think I have other meetings in the Foreign Ministry, and I think I leave in the afternoon. OK? See you later.