For Immediate Release
October 26, 2004

Global Message

From remarks by Secretary of State Powell in an interview with CNN International, Beijing, China, 10/25/04

"[T]he provision of assistance of the kind that North Korea needs from South Korea, Japan and other nations can only come when North Korea has made it clear that they are prepared to use the six-party framework as a way of dealing with this problem and eliminating their nuclear weapons programs totally in a verifiable manner. So, we're all pressing hard. There is a sense of urgency, but President Bush has made it clear that he intends to use diplomacy and political activity, working with our friends and neighbors in a multilateral way, to solve this problem." -- Secretary Powell in remarks with Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura, Tokyo, Japan, 10/24/04

President Bush has made it clear that the United States would like to solve problems with North Korea diplomatically.

America has no intention of invading or attacking North Korea. It is in North Korea's interest to find a way forward because the nuclear weapons program that they have been working on have not given them added security. They are developing weapons that would be very difficult for them to use, to try or to sell.

North Korea is in distress and needs economic assistance. President Bush wants to help the North Korean people, but North Korean government officials continue to cling to their weapons programs even though they say they want to denuclearize.

North Korea is not getting the kind of benefits, investment, or assistance they could receive from the international community if they made a firm commitment to get rid of their nuclear programs.