    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
    [April 16, 1996]
    [Pages 582-585]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's News Conference With President Kim Yong-sam of
    South Korea in Cheju
    April 16, 1996

        President Kim. Ladies and gentlemen of the press, on behalf of the
    people of the Republic of Korea, I would again like to extend a
    heartfelt welcome to President and Mrs. Bill Clinton who are visiting
    our country today.
        President Clinton and I have held five summit meetings since I
    became President of the Republic of Korea in 1993 and have worked
    together steadily to develop Korea-U.S. relations into a mature
    partnership. President Clinton's

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    visit to Korea today will further strengthen the solid alliance between
    our two countries. It also offers an opportunity to reaffirm the
    strategic importance of our bilateral relations for the Asia-Pacific era
    in the 21st century.
        President Clinton and I held indepth discussions for about an hour
    on the overall situation on the Korean Peninsula, including the recent
    North Korean provocations in the truce village of Panmunjom. President
    Clinton and I shared serious concern over the fact that North Korean
    authorities have recently tried to unilaterally undermine the armistice
    agreement and violated the agreement through military maneuvering in the
    joint security area. We agreed on the great importance of maintaining
    vigilance and strong joint Korea-U.S. defense posture in order to cope
    with any possible provocations swiftly and firmly. We have also agreed
    that the armistice agreement should be maintained and observed until a
    new system for peace is established. We share the view that the problem
    of building a permanent regime of peace should be resolved through the
    efforts initiated by the parties directly involved in the Korean
    problems themselves.
        Based upon such considerations, President Clinton and I have decided
    to make an important proposal in order to defuse the recently created
    tensions around the Korean Peninsula and to establish a permanent regime
    of peace in Korea. Today we have agreed to convene without any
    preconditions and as soon as possible, and to make a joint announcement
    of a four-party meeting in which the two Koreas, the direct parties
    concerned to the Korean questions, and the United States and China, the
    relevant parties to the Korean armistice agreement, would participate.
        We hope that through the four-party meeting we can facilitate dialog
    and exchanges between the two Koreas, reduce tensions between the two
    sides, and discuss various ways to establish a permanent regime of peace
    in the Korean Peninsula. It is the sincere expectation of our two
    leaders that both North Korea and China can show us a positive reaction
    to our proposal today. At a working luncheon with President Clinton
    shortly after, we will discuss recent developments in Northeast Asia and
    ways to promote bilateral relations in various areas.
        Finally, I firmly believe that President Clinton's visit to Korea
    this time is an opportunity for both our countries to bring to a higher
    level the enduring and comprehensive partnership which has been
    established on the basis of our shared value of democracy.
        Thank you.
        President Clinton. Let me begin by thanking President Kim for
    inviting me to this magnificent island.
        When President Kim was in Washington last summer, I pledged to him
    that America would always stand by the unshakable alliance between our
    two countries, an alliance based on a history of shared sacrifice and a
    future of common purpose. The United States is fully committed to the
    defense of South Korea, and we are determined to do everything we can to
    help to secure a stable and permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.
    That is why I am here today. The United States and South Korea are
    proposing a new four-party peace process that can lead to permanent
    peace. It would begin as soon as possible, and there are no
    preconditions.
        North Korea has said it wants peace. This is our proposal to achieve
    it. And we hope and expect Pyongyang will take it seriously. The dream
    of peace lies deep in the heart of all the Korean people, North and
    South. Realizing that dream will take hard work, patience, and a real
    willingness to focus on the future. But the benefits to all the Korean
    people are more than worth the effort. We ask the Government and the
    people of North Korea to join us in this quest. We would also welcome
    China's participation as the other signatory of the Korean armistice.
        It has been 43 years since the armistice was signed. There have been
    tensions ever since. North Korea's recent incursions into the joint
    security area reminds us again that peace on the peninsula is fragile.
    Any violation of the armistice increases the danger of an accident, a
    mistake, or a miscalculation that could have grave consequences. That is
    why the United States maintains a high level of vigilance and readiness
    on the Korean Peninsula. That is why our troops stand shoulder to
    shoulder with our South Korean allies. We must maintain the existing
    armistice agreement until a new peace accord is reached.
        We are also ready to do whatever we can to help to reach such an
    agreement. But let me be very clear: Establishing that peace is the
    responsibility of the Korean people, North and South. The United States
    will support and facilitate the peace process. But we will not negotiate

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    a separate peace treaty with North Korea. The future of the Korean
    Peninsula lies in the hands of its people.
        The partnership between the United States and South Korea is
    grounded in our shared security concerns, but it extends well beyond
    them to our many other shared interests. Together we are cooperating in
    economic efforts that will benefit all our people, in peacekeeping
    efforts, and in diplomacy around the world. Ours is an alliance for all
    times, good and bad, and it is stronger than ever.
        Thank you very much, Mr. President.
        Paul [Paul Basken, United Press International].

    Korean Peace Process

        Q. Given North Korea's actions over the last few days, which you
    noticed, and its rigid adherence to an authoritarian style of leadership
    for many years, do you have any basis for really believing North Korea
    is ready to change its outlook and its way of doing business?
        President Clinton. Well, I think there are two reasons, and perhaps
    President Kim would like to comment on this as well. But first of all,
    the North has said for some time that it does want peace. And secondly,
    just a few days ago, the North--a minister of the North Korean
    Government acknowledged the importance of maintaining the armistice
    until a new peace agreement can be put in place.
        I would caution that we should not expect an immediate positive
    response. I would be happy if it came. But I think it's important that
    we put this offer out there, let it stand, and be patient.
        Q. A question to President Kim Yong-sam. It has been understood that
    the proposal of the four-party meeting has been conveyed to North Korea
    and China already, and if there are any response coming from North Korea
    about this. And secondly, how President Kim looks at the prospects of
    the success of this four-party meeting. And in case North Korea does not
    respond positively, and instead continues to demand a direct talk with
    the United States, what will be the measures to be taken against it?
        President Kim. Yes, we have indeed conveyed our proposal of four-
    party meeting to China, courteously and with a lot of substance in
    there. And I've already sent my long letter to President Jiang Zemin of
    China explaining the ideas.
        With regard to North Korea, we sent a message to the North on
    Sunday. About your question of what we can do in case North Korea does
    not accept the proposal, of course, we do not expect that North Korea
    can respond to our proposal positively tomorrow. But it is very clear
    from my meeting with President Clinton today that the United States
    would not engage in dialog with North Korea separately and will not
    discuss anything outside these issues. So there is no possibility at all
    that that kind of exclusive U.S.-North Korea bilateral talks can occur.
        So we will be very patient. Time is on our side, and I think that
    this is perhaps the last choice that North Korea can make to resolve the
    Korean question. And I believe that eventually North Korea will accept
    our proposal.
        President Clinton. If I might, I'd just like to make one brief
    comment in response to the question to support what President Kim has
    said. We are strong, prepared, and united with our South Korean ally in
    our commitment to the defense of South Korea, first. And second, we have
    made it abundantly clear that there will be no separate agreement
    between North Korea and the United States on matters covered by the
    armistice. So I would hope that the people of South Korea would see this
    move on President Kim's part as a real example of leadership and
    strength, because we are united, we are firm, our position is clear, and
    we are simply trying to respond to the need for peace and North Korea's
    expression that they would like to have peace.
        Q. It is my understanding so far that the deal will be parallel
    approaches to North Korea, that is, U.S.-North Korea talks on one hand
    and North-South dialog on the other. And our concern is whether North
    Koreans might make some miscalculations regarding the recent situations
    and therefore--and especially in view of the recent developments that
    North Koreans have taken. And we are wondering whether the four-party
    proposal is sort of a weak approach to North Koreans who have been so
    adamant to any accommodation of our proposals in the past.
        President Clinton. Well, I would like to make two points in
    response. First of all, we have for some time had contacts with the
    North Koreans relating to the remains of our soldiers and the question
    of missiles and the desire of the United States to lead the world in
    minimiz-

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    ing the danger that missile technology proliferation poses to the world.
    But secondly, we have made it absolutely clear that we will not have any
    talks nor will we negotiate any agreement on any matter covered by the
    armistice agreement. We will not do that.
        The four-party talks are simply a way of providing a framework
    within which the South and the North can ultimately agree on the terms
    of peace in the same way that the armistice talks provided that
    framework 43 years ago. And if the United States can play a positive
    role in that, we want to. We would like it if the Chinese would do the
    same. But in the end, the Korean people are going to have to make peace
    for themselves and their future.

    North Korea

        Q. I would like to ask President Kim, as well as President Clinton,
    about your assessment of the situation, what is going on in North Korea.
    We hear reports about severe food shortages and fuel shortages. How dire
    is the situation, and do you think that this might be a catalyst or an
    inducement to bring North Korea to these talks that you are talking
    about this morning?
        President Kim. With regard to your question, my answer is that, yes,
    it is true that within North Korea there is a serious shortage of food
    and energy sources, and things are getting worse. And in fact, they are
    running short of so many things. And politically we don't think that the
    situation is stable, and economically it is a very uncertain regime.
        If I can make an analogy to the attitudes of North Korea in
    comparison with the weather forecasting, in fact, today we are going to
    have another very sunshiny day, because the weather forecast said that
    it was going to rain today. So we could have done our press conference
    inside. I think the same can be applied to the attitude of North Korea.
        President Clinton. Terry [Terence Hunt, Associated Press], with
    regard to the question you asked, I don't have a lot to add to what
    President Kim said, except to say that sometimes when countries are in
    difficult straits--just like people when they're in difficult straits--
    it is more difficult, not easier, to make agreements. So I don't know
    that the present difficulties in North Korea will change the negotiating
    posture of the North Koreans in favor of peace. What I would say to them
    is President Kim and I are making a good-faith effort here. I was
    impressed that he took this initiative; I was glad to join him with it.
    And it is clearly in the long-term interest of the people of North Korea
    to make peace. And so I would implore them to do this and to accept this
    offer not just because of the present difficulties but because it is the
    right thing to do for all the people of the Korean Peninsula over the
    long run.

    Note: The President's 118th news conference began at 12:37 p.m. in the
    garden at the Shilla Hotel. President Kim spoke in Korean, and his
    remarks were translated by an interpreter.