Remarks to Media in Japan

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: I’m going to see Sung Kim tomorrow night in Seoul, and we’ll talk about that.

QUESTION: Do you think the draft declaration will be handed over to them tomorrow?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: No, I don’t think so. I’ll talk to Sung about it. I talked to him earlier in the day. I think it’s just about ready. I think the draft is to be discussed at the Six-Party meetings. So we have to see what the Chinese want to do.

QUESTION: So we are going to see the draft at the heads-of-delegation meeting?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: What do you mean by “we”? (Laughter) I think that’s called a Freudian slip of the tongue.

No. I would think that the draft will be discussed at the Six-Party meeting in Beijing, assuming that’s scheduled next week.

QUESTION: Are you going to get it -- is it likely to get it by (inaudible)?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: I think it will go to the Chinese chair officially prior to the meetings.

QUESTION: How was the discussion with Ken Sasae?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Excellent, as always. Good discussion of the way forward.

QUESTION: Has he explained to you any progress on Japan-DPRK--

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: We talked about what they’ve been doing. For further details, you should ask him.

QUESTION: Are you going to have other meetings in Pyongyang?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: I’m not aware of other meetings in Pyongyang. I know that I’ll go to the site in Yongbyon. I know that I’ll be seeing Vice-Minister Kim Kye Gwan. I think there’s a plan to see some people from other ministries, including the nuclear ministry or atomic energy ministry. But that’s all I know at this point. I’ll know much better when I get there.