Morning Walk-Through, St. Regis Hotel - 02.12.07

Remarks by Christopher R. Hill
Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Morning Walk-Through, St. Regis Hotel
Beijing, China
February 12, 2007

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  Well, I’m off to the last day of the talks so we’ll see how it goes.

QUESTION:  Mr. Ambassador, there are some reports that say that this may not be the last day.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  It is the last day.  The Chinese announced that to us, and I was the first to second the motion.

QUESTION:  How hopeful are you that you can strike a deal?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  It’s up to the North Koreans.  I think we’ve put everything on the table.  We’ve really, I think, offered a way forward on a number of issues.  They just need to make a decision.  I don’t think there’s any need to do any more bargaining.  I think they just need to make a decision.

QUESTION:  Ambassador Hill, is this a deal that will stay on the table after this round, or is this something that North Korea has to think long and hard about before they walk away?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  Well, there’s a certain lifecycle to these negotiations, and I think there’s an opportunity here.  I can’t predict what it looks like a week from now or two weeks from now.  I think there will be some political climate change, if not in the U.S. maybe among some other countries.  I think people will have to look and consider the value of the diplomatic track.  I don’t want to predict this is the last chance or something.  I think this is a moment that we have to see whether the DPRK is interested in this opportunity or not.  We’ll find out.  The good news is we only have to wait one more day to find out. 

All right, see you all later.

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