Interview With Fuji Television

QUESTION: So they played the national anthem of the United States in front of the people of North Korea. So what do you think the significance of such event last night?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, it was a cultural event. And it's a great symphony orchestra. And I'm glad that they went. And, yes, it was something to hear the National Anthem played there.

Diplomacy is going to have to be diplomacy. And I don't expect that there is going to be a real impact on the nature of politics in North Korea. But I am in favor of opening up. I hope that North Korea will open up more. And so it was a good thing that they went.

QUESTION: So the concert does not indicate certain progress between the U.S. and North Korea?

SECRETARY RICE: No, this is a private -- this is a private matter. The Philharmonic decided to go on their own. But I'm glad that they went.

We are working hard to try through the Six-Party Talks to bring about the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. We have had contacts with North Korea in the context of the Six-Party Talks. And so we are at least able to work to make some progress in that regard. But this was a private matter, and it's a great orchestra and I'm glad they played.

QUESTION: I see. I see. I thought that you were going to attend that concert?

SECRETARY RICE: No, no. There was never any -- never any plans to do so.

QUESTION: I see. I see.

So talking about the Six-Party Talks, the Six-Party Talks has been stalled due to the North Korea failing to provide the complete declaration of nuclear. So what would you say, what do you see the current situation of the talks and also its future?

SECRETARY RICE: Yes. Well, I don't think we really are stalled, frankly. There has been some progress. There continues to even be some progress on disabling. And I expect that that will continue. Now, the North does need to move forward and put forward this complete declaration that can give confidence that the next phase will indeed be a phase that leads to the complete denuclearization or achieves the complete denuclearization.

But the atmosphere is not a difficult one. We had very good discussions in Beijing with the Chinese about how to move forward. There is some urgency to pushing forward. But I don't think the talks are in crisis, though.

QUESTION: Oh, I see. So you are pretty much optimistic about it?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, I have learned not to be optimistic or pessimistic. (Laughter.) I think you just keep pushing forward.

And this is not an easy process. We are talking about something that is very major here. The denuclearization of North Korea is not something that is going to be easy to achieve. But we have already managed to have them shut down the reactor. We have already seen them disable it so that it will be more difficult to restart it. And we will just keep moving forward.

QUESTION: I see. And also Japan has a big concern that the U.S. will remove North Korea from the list of sponsor states of terrorism only when North Korea fulfills the necessary conditions. And although -- I should say, however, President Bush has been showing so much passion and sympathy toward the abduction issue.

SECRETARY RICE: Yes.

QUESTION: So my question is this. I wanted to ask your perception of abduction. Is abduction terrorism?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, certainly, abduction is a humanitarian nightmare. To think -- it is the kind of act that just should not be permitted, tolerated in civilized society. And so to have people just disappear and be unaccounted for, it's not acceptable. And we have pressed that discussions between the D.P.R.K. and Japan would include this issue. We have ourselves pressed the D.P.R.K. on the abduction issue, said that they should resolve it, they should investigate and resolve it. So it is very much on our agenda.

We have certain standards in the United States about the terrorism list. And if those standards are met and the North Koreans do what they say they will do at the end of this phase two, then we will lift the terrorism designation. But that, by no means, is the end of the story in terms of all of the political steps that need to be taken in the future. And we are going to press very hard on the Japanese abduction issue.

QUESTION: Although you might remove North Korea from the list?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, the U.S. has a set of standards about that and we have said that when the Japanese -- when the North Koreans have done what they should in terms of disabling in the declaration, we would submit then the removal of North Korea from the list.

But again, there is no contradiction there with our very deep concern and our intention to continue to press on the abduction issue.

QUESTION: So is there a slightest possibility that you might visit North Korea yourself in order to break through the current situation and to pave the way to the perfect security over there, the Korean Peninsula?

SECRETARY RICE: I don't see any purpose to be served right now in that sort of visit. We have our contacts with the North Koreans through our so-called New York channel. They have representation there. Chris Hill has been to Pyongyang, our negotiator has been there. So there are plenty of contacts with the North Koreans.

What we need is for the North Koreans to move forward on the declaration and declare their programs, declare their activities so that we can move forward.

QUESTION: Talking about -- well, recently there was a horrible incident in Okinawa and where the U.S. Marine allegedly raped a young girl. And unfortunately, it was not the first case. We all remember even a worse case happened in 1995.

What would you say the U.S. should do to regain the trust from the people in Okinawa and as well as the Japanese people as a whole.

SECRETARY RICE: Well, first let me say that we deeply, deeply regret this incident. It should never have happened. It's a terrible incident. And our first concern is for the young girl and for her family, what a terrible ordeal for them. And they should know that the American people are concerned about them.

General Wright, before he left, set up a task force that will talk to people. We want to get to the bottom of it, we want justice to be done. And General Rice, the new commander, will make certain that that task force moves forward. He's looking at what measures can be taken to avoid any incidents in the future. And he has already taken some short-term measures to try to prevent it. So it's just a terrible, terrible incident and it just shouldn't have happened and our hearts go out to the girl and her family.

QUESTION: Well, we are now running out of time, but I have to ask this. The presidential election, we Japanese people are much -- paying much attention to the presidential race. And I think the Republican potential nominee is almost decided. And this is only my opinion, but I think that Mr. McCain and you can make a perfect match. (Laughter.) If you would like to take on vice presidency.

SECRETARY RICE: Well, let me just say this. I know Senator McCain, of course, quite well, and he is a great, great patriot. I am going to continue being Secretary of State. We have a lot of work to do.

QUESTION: Yes.

SECRETARY RICE: We have had great success in, for instance, strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance over these years. We would love to see the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, to work to move to a Palestinian state. There is just a lot of work to do.

And then I'm going to go home, back to Stanford, and come back and visit Japan as I used to, as a professor.

QUESTION: I see. So you have no intention to take another role in the next administration if the GOP remains in the White House?

SECRETARY RICE: The most important thing to know is when it's time to do something else.

QUESTION: I see.

SECRETARY RICE: And after another several months of traveling and trying to cement some of the progress that President Bush has made in these years, I'll be perfectly happy to go home.

QUESTION:Thank you very much, Secretary Rice.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you. It's good to be with you again.

QUESTION: Thank you very much.

2008/T6-5