Interview With NHK Television

Obviously, we don't want to see this kind of thing happen again. But, again, our principal concern is for the girl and her family. It is just a terribly regrettable incident. And we deeply regret that this has happened.

QUESTION: The Japanese public, especially the Okinawa residents, are angered and frustrated, not only with the incident but also with the recurrences of incidents like this. And drastic and continuous measures should be taken to prevent the recurrences of this kind of incident. What is the U.S. ready to do?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, General Wright, when he set up the task force, is looking into what happened here and, of course, obviously, what can be done to prevent this in the future. He has taken some short-term measures to try and prevent any further incidents.

But I just want to say that our concern right now is that justice be done in this case and to send the deepest regrets of the American people and the American government to the people of Okinawa, but particularly to this young girl.

QUESTION: Can we take your deepest regret as a sort of apology for the incident?

SECRETARY RICE: Of course, we would never want something like this to happen. And so we deeply, deeply regret it.

QUESTION: About the North Korean nuclear issue. You have talked with many people on this trip, including the Foreign Minister of China, Mr. Yang. Are you optimistic, more optimistic about the resolution of this issue after you talked with Foreign Minister Yang than before your trip?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, my trip is that we should neither try to be optimistic nor pessimistic; we should just go straight ahead. We know what needs to be done. The progress -- there has been some progress in the disabling of the reactor.

But North Korea now needs to file a declaration that can give confidence that we know what we are dealing with going forward. We are ready to discharge our obligations, the United States is ready to discharge its obligations. But it is very important that we get this declaration out and the disablement concludes so that we can finish this second phase.

I should say also that there are, of course, other issues as we go forward. As we have been very concerned and very much supportive of the discussions between the D.P.R.K. and Japan. We think that it's important that the discussion of the abduction issue go forward, that there be progress on that issue as well.

But I have learned in these cases not to be too optimistic and not to be too pessimistic. We have set this up so that it is action for action and that is what we are looking for.

QUESTION: You instructed Mr. Hill to stay in Beijing. Is it sort of a hopeful sign?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, we certainly had good discussions yesterday with the Chinese about the necessity of moving this process forward. Everyone has a lot at stake in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Everyone has at lot at stake in moving forward toward a more peaceful Korean Peninsula. And China recognizes that it has interests here, too. So our discussions were good and we thought that it would be very good if Chris Hill were able to stay and continue those discussions. Because obviously, my time was somewhat limited.

QUESTION: I see. It is reported that Ambassador Gregg met with Vice Minister Kim Kye Gwan in Pyongyang and told him that it would be easier for both countries to solve this issue in this Administration, in your administration, than the one next, coming next. Do you share the same view?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, of course we would like to resolve it in this administration. We think that the President has -- has shepherded and laid forward a policy here that can be to the benefit of all. There is a lot at stake for North Korea and an opportunity for North Korea to begin to engage the international community.

So we believe it can be resolved. But I believe in what Ambassador Gregg -- and I had a chance just to speak briefly with him during the inaugural ceremonies for the South Korean president. I think what he was saying is that America's interests will be America's interests. And any American president is going to, I believe, insist that North Korea completely and verifiably denuclearize and that we do this in coordination and in consultation with our closest allies, like Japan and South Korea.

QUESTION: If North Korea declares completely and correctly its nuclear programs, are you ready to start the process of taking D.P.R.K. out of the list of terrorist -- terrorism-sponsoring nations?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, we have said that the complete, verifiable declaration and the disabling, both which go together, of course U.S. obligations would include the removal of the D.P.R.K. from the terrorism list. But that's not, of course, the end of the story. There is much more to do in order to make the political process go forward.

QUESTION: How much does the abduction, Japanese abduction issue weigh in that process?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, we believe that the Japanese abduction issue is long overdue for resolution. This is a terrible humanitarian situation, to have people disappear, to know not what has happened to them. And so we have been encouraging and using our contacts with the D.P.R.K. to support and to even facilitate discussions between the D.P.R.K. and Japan. We have urged the D.P.R.K. to be transparent about what had happened, to investigate what has happened. This is also very important to the United States. We take it as a serious matter.

QUESTION: Now, the United States is in the process of selecting the next president. And it may be an historic election, because this may be the first, you know, election to elect an African American or female president. How do you see the significance of this election?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, America is a place that has made many, many strides over many, many years now to finally be a place that lives up to our ideals about a country in which there is equality for all. And this is another important step. We have been on this road for a while now.

But I think Americans will ultimately make their decisions not by matter of gender or by matter of color of skin. I think Americans will look. They will say, does this candidate represent my values? Does this candidate represent my interests? Is this someone that I want to live with every night for the next four years? And Americans will make their choice.

But that's the good thing about the United States. I think we have gotten to the place that these issues are beginning to be less important.

QUESTION: If offered by a Republican nominee, would you take the vice presidential slot?

SECRETARY RICE: I'm going back to Stanford, where I was before. I have been very fortunate and will have been very fortunate to be Secretary of State, before that National Security Advisor. And it's time for me to go home.

QUESTION: But things may change?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, you know, I've got a lot of work ahead of me. I've got work about the Korean Peninsula, the Middle East peace where we have been in very close contact with our allies like Japan. Lots and lots of issues for the next several months. But it's always a good thing to know when it's time to go home.

QUESTION: Last question. What is the single most important agenda for you in this position, you know, within this administration?

SECRETARY RICE: You know, the American Secretary of State doesn't really have the option of having only one issue. I was just last night on the phone with Kofi Annan about Kenya. We had just come out of Africa where the United States has had a robust agenda under President Bush. I will be in the Middle East next week at a historic NATO summit, in a little while in Latin America. We have a broad agenda.

But obviously, we would like to see, and the President has said, he would like to see the Palestinian state come into being so that the Palestinians know that there is a future, and that Israel and Palestine can live side by side in peace and security.

And I do think that the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as one of the pillars of a strong Asia-Pacific region, that will build on what we have already done. This last several years has been historic in the strengthening of our alliances in this region. I don't think the U.S.-Japan relationship, for instance, has ever been stronger than it is right now. And so to cement and secure some of the gains that we have made here in Asia is of very great importance to me.

QUESTION: Thank you very much, Madame Secretary.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you very much.

QUESTION: Wish you the best of luck.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you.

2008/T6-6