[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.