    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [October 18, 1994]
    [Pages 1794-1795]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Nuclear Agreement With North Korea
    October 18, 1994

        Good afternoon. I am pleased that the United States and North Korea
    yesterday reached agreement on the text of a framework document on North
    Korea's nuclear program. This agreement will help to achieve a
    longstanding and vital American objective: an end to the threat of
    nuclear proliferation on the Korean Peninsula.
        This agreement is good for the United States, good for our allies,
    and good for the safety of the entire world. It reduces the danger of
    the threat of nuclear spreading in the region. It's a crucial step
    toward drawing North Korea into the global community.
        I want to begin by thanking Secretary Christopher and our chief
    negotiator, Ambassador at

    [[Page 1795]]

    Large Bob Gallucci, for seeing these negotiations through. I asked Bob
    if he'd had any sleep, since he's going to answer all your technical
    questions about this agreement, and he said that he had had some sleep.
    So be somewhat gentle with him. After meeting with my chief national
    security advisers, and at their unanimous recommendation, I am
    instructing Ambassador Gallucci to return to Geneva on Friday for the
    purpose of signing an agreement.
        The United States has been concerned about the possibility that
    North Korea was developing nuclear weapons since the 1980's. Three
    administrations have tried to bring this nuclear program under
    international control. There is nothing more important to our security
    and to the world's stability than preventing the spread of nuclear
    weapons and ballistic missiles. And the United States has an unshakeable
    commitment to protect our ally and our fellow democracy South Korea.
    Thirty-eight thousand American troops stationed on the Peninsula are the
    guarantors of that commitment.
        Today, after 16 months of intense and difficult negotiations with
    North Korea, we have completed an agreement that will make the United
    States, the Korean Peninsula, and the world safer. Under the agreement,
    North Korea has agreed to freeze its existing nuclear program and to
    accept international inspection of all existing facilities.
        This agreement represents the first step on the road to a nuclear-
    free Korean Peninsula. It does not rely on trust. Compliance will be
    certified by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The United States
    and North Korea have also agreed to ease trade restrictions and to move
    toward establishing liaison offices in each other's capitals. These
    offices will ease North Korea's isolation.
        From the start of the negotiations, we have consulted closely with
    South Korea, with Japan, and with other interested parties. We will
    continue to work closely with our allies and with the Congress as our
    relationship with North Korea develops.
        Throughout this administration, the fight against the spread of
    nuclear weapons has been among our most important international
    priorities, and we've made great progress toward removing nuclear
    weapons from Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and from Belarus. Nuclear weapons in
    Russia are no longer targeted on our citizens. Today all Americans
    should know that as a result of this achievement on Korea, our Nation
    will be safer and the future of our people more secure.
        Now I'd like to ask Ambassador Gallucci to come up and make a
    statement and answer your questions.

    Note: The President spoke at 5:09 p.m. in the Briefing Room at the White
    House.