2. DPRK-US Talks
US President Bill Clinton met with Jo Myong Rok, first vice chairman of DPRK's National Defense Commission and the second-ranking member of the DPRK government. Jo reportedly proposed a plan for the DPRK to abandon its long-range Taepodong missile project if international society provides with the financial assistance needed to launch satellites. Jo met with US Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen and discussed similar issues.
"US-DPRK Talks" (Daily Report, October 11, US)
"US-DPRK Talks" (Daily Report, October 9, US)
"DPRK-US Talks" (Daily Report, October 11, ROK)
"DPRK Envoy's Visit to U.S." (Daily Report, October 11, PRC)
"US-DPRK Talks" (Daily Report, October 10, US)
Jo Myong Rok met with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. He outlined his concerns about the DPRK's security and extended an invitation to visit the DPRK. Albright will travel to the DPRK, possibly by the end of October, to prepare an unprecedented meeting between US President Bill Clinton and DPRK leader Kim Jong-il. ROK President Kim Dae-jung expects Albright to announce upon her return from the DPRK the opening of relations between the US and the DPRK, establishing liaison offices in the two capital cities, and the removal of the DPRK from the US list of sponsors of terrorism.
"US-DPRK Talks" (Daily Report, October 11, US)
"Albright To Visit the DPRK" (Daily Report, October 12, US)
"US-DPRK Talks" (Daily Report, October 10, US)
"Albright To Visit DPRK" (Daily Report, October 10, US)
Government officials, analysts, and the mass media in the ROK have generally been quite supportive of recent developments in US-DPRK relations. Many said a Clinton trip to the DPRK could only benefit the peace process. While some have drawn parallels to the historic 1972 visit to the PRC by former US President Richard Nixon, others have voiced pessimism that resumption of ties may take two years to implement. Quoting unnamed sources in the US, some ROK newspapers reported that the DPRK and the US had agreed to open liaison offices at both capitals early next year as a step toward establishing ambassadorial-level relations. ROK President Kim Dae-jung said on October 12 that it is "a matter of time" before the DPRK establishes diplomatic relations with both the US and Japan.
"ROK View of US-DPRK Talks" (Daily Report, October 12, US)
"Possible Clinton Visit to DPRK" (Daily Report, October 13, US)
"DPRK-US Relations" (Daily Report, October 13, ROK)
PRC foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao welcomed the talks between the US and the DPRK, and expressed hope that they would help to foster stability in the region.
"PRC View of US-DPRK Talks" (Daily Report, October 12, US)
The Nihonkeizai (Nikkei) Shimbun reported that despite the improving relations between the US and the DPRK, reflected by their recent joint statement, policy coordination among the US, the ROK, and Japan has become more difficult.
"Japanese Reaction to US-DPRK Joint Statement" (Daily Report, October 13, Japan)