5/3 Press Brief: DPRK

Robert Wood
Acting Department Spokesman
Daily Press Briefing
April 3, 2009

EXCERPT

NORTH KOREA
U.S. Calls on North to Desist from Launching Missile / Launch Counterproductive, Provocative
Launch Hasn't Taken Place / If It Does, U.S. Will Talk with Allies to Coordinate Response
Situation is Tense / Challenge Is to Get North Korea to Focus on Its Commitments

QUESTION: What's the latest on North Korea and the missile launch?

MR. WOOD: I don't have any update for you, Matt. We remain concerned about a possible launch. And as I said yesterday, we view that as a provocative act. We call on the North to refrain from inflaming tensions further in the region and, you know, we're going to continue to make that point as clearly as we can. We are encouraging others to do so as well. And we'll just have to see.

QUESTION: What are you looking at in terms of a response, if they do go ahead with it?

MR. WOOD: Well, I don't want to preview what we may or may not do, Matt, as I said yesterday. But I can assure you that should that launch go forward, we will be working with our partners in the region and elsewhere to see what we can do to prevent the North from carrying out further launchings.

QUESTION: Robert, can I follow up on that?

MR. WOOD: Sure. Good to see you.

QUESTION: I know you're trying - not trying to - it's good to see you too. If the launch happens and Japan says, "We want to go to the Security Council," will the U.S. back them?

MR. WOOD: Well, that will depend on the Security Council president. If a session is called, the United States will certainly be there.

QUESTION: Be there is one thing, but will you back the request to take the whole issue of the missile launch up in the Security Council?

MR. WOOD: If there is a meeting on the missile launch in the Security Council, the United States will be there. We - again, as we've spoken very clearly, we don't want to see this missile launch go forward. And once again, we continue to call on the North to refrain from carrying out this type of provocative act. And we call on others in the international community to do so as well.

QUESTION: Including China?

MR. WOOD: Everyone in the international community.

QUESTION: And what signals have you received back to allow you to maintain hope that the North Koreans might heed your call?

MR. WOOD: Well, I haven't seen any signals from the North publicly at all at this point. You know, there are lots of news reports out there that preparations are underway for this test. I'm not going to talk about what information we may have. But we remain concerned that this test may go forward, and this launch may go forward. And we want to see - we want the North to desist from doing this. So that's about the best I can give you right now on that, Charley.

QUESTION: Any reaction from China?

MR. WOOD: In terms of?

QUESTION: As far as this launch is concerned?

MR. WOOD: Well, I think all of us are - particularly the Six-Party - the other five Six-Party partners are concerned about the North not getting back to the Six-Party framework so we can focus on the important issue, which is denuclearization.
You know, I'd refer you to the Chinese for their own views on this matter, but they're a key partner in the Six-Party framework and they understand the importance of getting the North to focus on what it's agreed to focus on. This launch, if it does take place, will obviously ratchet up tensions in an area that doesn't need to see increased tensions.
Back here, please. Yes.

QUESTION: Robert, on the tensions, how concerned are you about possible proliferation stemming from this test, transfer of technology or equipment, beyond the region?

MR. WOOD: Well, that would obviously be a concern. And we have encouraged the North - we and our other partners in the Six-Party framework and beyond that framework - that the North needs to desist from proliferation activities, from conducting any type of ballistic missile launches. This is not what the region needs right now. What the region needs and wants to see is a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. And we're going to continue to push that objective and we'll just have to see what happens from there.
Yes, ma'am.

QUESTION: Do you know what kind of sanctions imposed to North Korea?

MR. WOOD: I'm sorry?

QUESTION: What kind of sanctions imposed to North Korea?

MR. WOOD: You mean beyond what exists?

QUESTION: Yes.

MR. WOOD: Well, as I said to you just a few minutes ago, that should this launch go forward, we will be looking to see what we can do to prevent the North from conducting these types of launches in the future. But I don't want to preview, as I said earlier, what we may or may not do at this point. I don't think that would be helpful.
Same subject?

QUESTION: Same subject.

MR. WOOD: Yes.

QUESTION: Considering the nervousness of the Japanese among other countries, is the United States treaty bound to come to the support of Japan if this is seen as an attack on Japan?
MR. WOOD: Well, again, Charley, this is - nothing has happened yet. We obviously have, you know, a defense treaty with Japan. But I don't want to - you know, again, this launch has not taken place, so I don't really want to get ahead of things and start speculating as to what we may or may not do in conjunction with one or more allies. So let me leave it at that.
Yes.