The Adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718 (DPRK)

USUN PRESS RELEASE #289(06)  

Ambassador Bolton: Well we’re very pleased by the outcome of the unanimous vote by the Security Council and a strong resolution that imposes significant sanctions against the North Korean program of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. And also, because it was acting under Chapter VII, calls for the complete verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of their nuclear, chemical, biological weapons programs and their ballistic missile program. Calls on them not to test any more ballistic missiles and obviously not to test any nuclear weapons.

So this is a clear signal. We think this represents essentially what the United States asked for when it circulated its draft resolution on Monday; and that the terms that the Council has agreed to are exactly in line with our recommendations and policies. So this is an important moment, the question now is how North Korea responds. I note that they walked out, yet again, as they did after the unanimous adoption of resolution 1695. I hope that’s not really a sign of the North Korean attitude towards the Security Council but I suppose we will see in coming days. So I’d be happy to take a few questions.

Reporter: Ambassador, China has said they clearly do not support inspection of cargo moving in and out of North Korea and they’re not going to take part in it. How do you respond to that?

Ambassador Bolton: Well, they are bound by this resolution, which is under Chapter VII. Having determined that there is a threat to international peace and security, the legal adviser to the Chinese Foreign Ministry has previously agreed with other permanent members that that kind of language is legally binding on UN members. And I can’t believe that China won’t adhere to obligations that the Security Council has imposed.

Reporter: Mr. Ambassador, you heard the rejection of the resolution by the North Korean ambassador. What if Korea -- tomorrow – you wake up and they have conducted a nuclear test. Do you have plans? What would the Security Council do in that case?

Ambassador Bolton: I think before we speculate about what they might do we'll wait and see what the official reaction is. I'm hoping that the ambassador's reaction here today was just his personal reaction, although I doubt it. But we will give them time to respond, and I hope that they choose the correct path: give up the pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and open up the potential for their oppressed people for a better life.

Reporter: Mr. Ambassador, there's going to be a committee forming about this subject. And I was wondering who -- what country are you going to suggest that be part of that committee? And what role does the Australia Group have to do with that committee?

Ambassador Bolton: Yeah, I think that the government of Slovakia has agreed to chair the committee, which we welcome. The issue of the Australia Group Control List goes to the chemical and biological weapons issue that Russia objected to putting in the same status as the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the missile technology control regime, but we expect within the next two weeks we're certainly going to push for the Australia Group Control List to be used for biological and chemical weapons issues.

Reporter: Ambassador, one question here. The United States flattened North Korea in the 1950s, nearly nuked them. And it seems they fear --

Ambassador Bolton: I don't think that's quite right.

Reporter: Well, they fear that it could happen again. Where is the policy of engaging them here? It seems North Korea always reacts to the United States. Where is the engaging them on the part of the United States?

Ambassador Bolton: Well, that is an analysis consistent with the view of those who always blame America first. Our view is somewhat different. We have told the North Koreans repeatedly that we're prepared to have bilateral discussions with them in the context of the six-party talks, which they have now boycotted for 13 months. They could have these conversations. They're the ones that are rejecting them. They're the ones that are not willing to sit down and talk. They're the ones that are not engaged in negotiation.

Reporter: Ambassador, earlier in the week you said that you were sure that Iran would be closely following what you would be doing here regarding North Korea. What do you suspect they're going to infer from your actions today?

Ambassador Bolton: I'm sorry. I apologize. I didn't hear the first part of your question.

Reporter: Earlier in the week, you had mentioned that you were sure that Iran would be closely watching what you would be doing here at the council regarding North Korea. What kind of a signal do you believe you are sending to them today?

Ambassador Bolton: I think this shows quite strongly that the Council's not going to tolerate the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and that Iran should learn from this lesson.

Reporter: How confident are you, though? Because the Chinese have said repeatedly -- I know you spoke to this a bit earlier -- the Chinese have said repeatedly, we will not take part, whether it's for reasons of sovereignty or the issue that may an escalation. But you're banking on this -- inspections to be the lock on materials going out or coming in. Is that correct?

Ambassador Bolton: Well, China voted in favor of a resolution that authorizes inspection and also requires all member governments not to participate in any way in transactions with North Korea involving weapons of mass destruction for certain specified categories of weapons.

Now, China has to comply with that obligation, which is binding under Chapter VII and which they themselves supported. So perhaps they've got another way to make sure that their land transportation routes and airspace are not being violated by North Korea or others, and I take it they will find a way to do that. I assume they will, otherwise they would have a problem with the resolution.

Reporter: So it's an assumption, though, on this part. Is there any way of ensuring that they will comply?

Ambassador Bolton: Well, they voted in favor of the resolution. I assume when you vote in favor of something, it means you support it, and that's what the public record shows.

Reporter: How quickly do you expect the sanctions committee to begin its work and for this resolution to eventually be --

Ambassador Bolton: We have given a 14-day deadline to try and resolve the guidelines on chemical and biological weapons and to see if there will be any changes on the control list for nuclear and nuclear weapon-related items and ballistic missiles, so I expect it's going to be very quickly.

Reporter: Ambassador, are you concerned for how North Korea will compensate for this constriction on their economy, maybe an increase transfer in small arms or more illicit activity in some areas?

Ambassador Bolton: Yeah, the North Koreans are very entrepreneurial in their illegal activities -- smuggling illegal narcotics through diplomatic pouches, counterfeiting American currency, proliferating ballistic missile technology. So I'm sure that this will be a matter of concern to them, but the point -- the real point of this exercise is once again to say they are utterly and totally isolated within the international community and that if reason could prevail in Pyongyang, they would see that real safety lies in abandoning the pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and not continuing to go after them.

Reporter: Could you just say what this -- the process last week says about cooperation among the P-5? I mean, looking back, it went -- it took a few days, but it wasn't in a week. What do you of the process?

Ambassador Bolton: Well, I think this is now six days since the test. In July, it took us 11 days after the missile test, so we're moving more quickly, and I think that the speed of the response was important. All of the Council members said on Monday that they felt it was important to have a rapid, strong and unanimous response, and that's exactly what we have.

Reporter: Can the U.S. describe the diplomacy part of the equation here, because of part of this are the strict measures, but then there is a diplomacy part you want them to join the six-party talks. Can you describe for us where those efforts are for the U.S.? And is there any consideration to talks outside of the six-party format?

Ambassador Bolton: Well, from the outset after the test, the president was on the phone to other world leaders, Secretary Rice was on the phone to her counterparts, so it's been a very active week in diplomacy, and both the President and the Secretary reiterated time and again that if the North Koreans would come back to the six-party talks, a lot of things might be possible. It's the North Koreans that are boycotting the talks. We've tried in a variety of different venues and a variety of different formats to resume the talks, and it's the North Koreans that have resisted. I don't know how we can be accused of not seeking a diplomatic relation with -- a solution to this with North Korea when they won't come down in the very format that all of their neighbors in the region have asked for to try and solve this problem. This is not a dispute between the United States and North Korea. It's a dispute between North Korea and the rest of the world and particularly the other countries that are in its immediate area -- China, Russia, South Korea and Japan. They have a legitimate stake in the resolution of this threat. The United States can't negotiate to their exclusion. That's been tried before and failed.

Okay. All right. Have a nice weekend.