[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
[December 29, 1996]
[Page 2237]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on the Resolution of the Korean Peninsula Submarine Incident
December 29, 1996

    I welcome today's official statement by North Korea conveying its 
deep regret for the submarine incident in South Korea last September. I 
am pleased that P'yongyang has pledged to prevent the recurrence of such 
an incident and has expressed its willingness to work with others for 
durable peace and stability on the Peninsula. This is a significant 
development, which I hope will contribute to the reduction of tensions 
on the Korean Peninsula.
    I extend my appreciation to President Kim Yong-sam for his personal 
efforts to resolve the submarine incursion in a way that opens the door 
for future South-North dialog. The United States and South Korea have 
cooperated closely as firm allies to resolve this issue. I hope 
discussions can now begin to move forward on the four-party peace talks 
which President Kim Yong-sam and I offered last April.