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AMBASSADOR KING: Appreciate the opportunity to talk with you this afternoon. Last year
was an important year in terms of North Korean human rights. Just a year ago this month,
the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution to establish a Commission of Inquiry to examine
human rights in the DPRK. A short while later, three distinguished individuals were appointed
to this Commission of Inquiry. The chairman was Michael Kirby, who's a Justice of the
High Court of Australia; Marzuki Darusman, an Indonesian who had earlier and still continues
to serve as the Special Rapporteur on North Korean human rights for the Human Rights Council.
He's a former Prosecutor General for the Government of Indonesia. And the third member was Sonja
Biserko, who is a former Yugoslav diplomat and a prominent human rights activist in Serbia.
These three people have played a very important role in terms of the preparation of the report
that's being - that's been issued and that will be discussed on Monday in Geneva.
The Commission, I think, has conducted an exemplary investigation. The Commission held
a series of public hearings in Seoul, in Tokyo, in London, in Washington. They heard from
victims of human rights abuse in North Korea. They heard from specialists who analyze and
understand academically what's going on in North Korea. They held private meetings with
witnesses who preferred not to appear in public because of relative still living in North
Korea. It was a remarkably transparent and open process. Most the hearings that were
held were public hearings to which there were a large number of people who observed the
hearings. The hearings were videoed, and they're available online on the UN High Commissioner
for Human Rights' webpage. There's also a transcript of what was said during the course
of the investigation. Judge Kirby has been remarkably available to the press in terms
of discussing the report, discussing the Commission's recommendations. The report was made public
a little over - or a little less than four weeks ago. Justice Kirby gave a press conference
on the occasion when the report was released.
The Human Rights Council will have a formal interactive dialogue on Monday where the Commission
will formally present its report to the commission - too many commissions there - and will have
a discussion, an opportunity to raise questions of the commission members about their recommendations.
The U.S. has been a strong supporter of this process. We have been an active participant.
We've been engaged with the Commission of Inquiry, with other members of the Human Rights
Council in terms of the preparation for the report. We continue the process, and we welcome
this spotlight on human rights conditions in North Korea. We think it's helpful to understand
what's going on in North Korea, we think it's helpful to have an international body looking
at these issues, and we appreciate this opportunity to examine what's going on with regard to
North Korea's human rights record.
If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.
MODERATOR: Great. Just a reminder, of course. When it's time, please wait for the microphone.
Please also state your name and the outlet that you're with, and for the people in New
York, please come to the podium when you're ready to ask a question.
So with that, let's get started. Yes, right here in the middle.
QUESTION: Thanks for doing this. Shaun Tandon with AFP. I wanted to see what you saw as
the further steps following the Commission of Inquiry, whether you see some action through
the United Nations. The conventional wisdom is that China may be less than enthusiastic
about referral of its close ally over alleged crimes against humanity. Does the United States
see it as a priority to pursue this through UN channels?
AMBASSADOR KING: We think it's very productive to pursue it through UN channels and we'll
hope to do that. The Commission has recommended that there be some kind of ongoing process
that continues, some kind of a field mechanism, to continue identifying individuals who are
responsible in order to establish responsibility for the violations that have gone on. I know
the High Commissioner and members of the Human Rights Council are looking at this issue as
to how we might be able to continue some kind of ongoing collection of information that
would be useful.
There is a resolution that is being drafted that will be considered by the Human Rights
Council, probably voted on by the end of next week. The final text has not yet been introduced.
I don't know the details of what the text will ultimately have. There are a number of
additional possibilities in terms of UN action, and I'm sure the resolution will include some
recommendations in that regard.
MODERATOR: Okay.
QUESTION: Thank you, Ambassador. My name is Bingru ***, with Hong Kong Phoenix TV. Could
you please update us the latest status of your effort to secure Kenneth Bae's release?
And since North Korea has already withdrawn twice of your - of their invitation, how do
this complicate your diplomacy with North Korea? And could you share - could you please
tell us or shed any light on why North Korea withdrew their invitation? Thank you.
AMBASSADOR KING: First of all, with regard to American citizens, the welfare, well-being
of American citizens is one of the highest concerns that the United States has, and we
continue to be concerned about the welfare of Kenneth Bae. When Kenneth Bae's mother
and sister and son were here in Washington a couple of weeks ago, they met with Secretary
of State Kerry, who again affirmed our interest, our concern. And we're hopeful that Mr. Bae
will be released. We have made the request on a number of occasions. We continue to make
that request to the North Koreans, that we urge that he be granted amnesty, that he be
released on humanitarian grounds, and we have made that request.
We have made the request that I would be willing to go to Pyongyang to discuss his case. I've
been invited twice and disinvited twice. We have made clear to the North Koreans that
my invitation - or my request to come to North Korea still stands, and we're hopeful that
we'll be able to have an opportunity to discuss the case, and hopefully, to secure his release.
In terms of why the North Koreans have disinvited me, that's probably a question you're better
off to ask the North Koreans.
QUESTION: Hyodong Roh, with the Yonhap News Agency. I have two questions for you. Recently,
Ambassador Donald Gregg said North Korean officials canceled invitations to you because
of B-52 bomber flight drills. Have you got anything from North Korean officials? And
what do you discuss with the North Koreans in New York channel?
My second question is: Do you think the North Korean human right issues should be put on
the negotiation table if the Six-Party Talks resume sometime in the future?
AMBASSADOR KING: With regard to Ambassador Gregg's comment, we have seen the comments
that he made. We've also seen comments that have been made by the North Koreans. Yes,
we've seen those comments.
With regard to human rights being included in broader discussions with North Korea, I
think we've taken the view that an improvement in the relationship between North Korea and
the United States will depend on improvement in the North Korean record on human rights.
It's much easier to have a good relationship with countries that have a good record on
human rights, and that clearly is the case with North Korea.
QUESTION: (Inaudible) on the agenda within the Six-Party process?
AMBASSADOR KING: I don't know that it needs to be put on the agenda. It's certainly on
the agenda in terms of U.S. talks with North Korea. When I was in Pyongyang a couple of
years ago to talk about other issues, we did have discussions about human rights issues.
They know our interest and concern for those issues. So yeah, I don't know whether it needs
to be formally put on the agenda. We're not having Six-Party Talks right now. Let's get
the Six-Party Talks underway, and then we can look at what we want to add as well.
MODERATOR: Yeah.
QUESTION: Hi. I just wanted to follow up. Chen Weihua, China Daily. I mean, you said
- I mean, to me it's the human rights issue is the evolving issue between even China and
the U.S. since Nixon days, so - but you choose to - Nixon choose to engage in China. I mean,
why don't you follow up, not choose to engage North Korea in terms of dialogue instead of
simply through sort of pressure? I think sanction maybe more - I mean, do you actually have
any channel of communication with North Korea on such issue or other issues at the moment?
AMBASSADOR KING: When we need to communicate with the North Koreans, we communicate with
them, and we do so. As I say, whenever we have reason to communicate with them, we do.
QUESTION: (Inaudible.)
MODERATOR: Hang on. Can you wait for the microphone? Thanks.
QUESTION: But you don't think to engage them for human rights dialogue is a good idea?
AMBASSADOR KING: No, I think it would be useful to engage them for human rights dialogue.
I raised that issue when I was in Pyongyang and in meetings that took place in New York
afterwards. I think there's reason to engage them. On the other hand, there are also serious
reasons to deal with the nuclear issue, and I think at this point the nuclear issue is
the one that is getting the highest attention.
QUESTION: Hi. Alex Wortman with NHK. I just wanted to follow up on your comments before
about you saying that it was easier to engage with countries that have better human rights
records. Staying on that subject, does that mean that the two - the nuclear disarmament
issue and the human rights abuse issue, are they interlinked? Do you see them as having
to be - you can't have one without the other, or do you separate them? I just want a little
bit of how you evaluate when you step into these negotiations. Thank you.
AMBASSADOR KING: You've heard Lyndon Johnson's famous expression that you've got to be able
to walk and chew gum at the same time. I think in terms of looking at our relationship with
North Korea, we have a channel where we're trying to carry out discussions on the nuclear
issue. We should also have a channel to be able to carry out conversations on the human
rights issue as well. They don't have to be linked.
MODERATOR: Yes, gentleman in the back.
QUESTION: Matthew Pennington from AP. Ambassador King, does - the Commission of Inquiry recommended
referral to the International Criminal Court. Does the U.S. support that aim? And also,
I mean, I guess as a pre-step, do you think that the commission's report should be referred
to the UN Security Council? Thanks.
AMBASSADOR KING: Both of those issues are raised in the report that the Commission prepared.
We have been looking at those recommendations. We're in the process of working with a number
of other countries on a resolution that will respond to the issues that have been raised
in the report. The resolution is being drafted by the European Union and the Japanese. We've
consulted with both of them. We're consulting internally in terms of this and trying to
work out a text. There isn't a text that's been agreed on yet, and so these issues have
not been resolved.
MODERATOR: Are there any further questions? Oh, yes, we do. Right here.
QUESTION: Mikyung Kim from Seoul Shinmun Daily, Korea. How effective you think the U.S. and
the international community's address on the human right issue on North Korea - in North
Korea have been so far? Because after Kim Jong-un regime started, some people say the
human rights situation, it's deteriorating. So U.S. and the international community, like
UN's push for - I mean against North Korea is not that effective, so do you think we
need to put more pressure on North Korea after the Kim Jong-un regime took power two years
ago, or you just stay in the same position? Thank you.
AMBASSADOR KING: We continue to press the North Korean government on its human rights
record, and we will continue to do that. There are some areas where, for example, in the
number of refugees who've been able to leave North Korea, the numbers have declined since
Kim Jong-un became the leader. In other areas, conditions remain bad, and so we'll continue
to work on this. Dealing with human rights is not something where you go out and strike
a blow and it's done and you move on. It's something that requires consistent effort
over time, and we need to continue to press for improvement in human rights in North Korea,
and we'll continue to do that.
MODERATOR: Okay. And way back in the back. Yes, thank you.
QUESTION: Thank you for your time. My name is Min Shim. I'm from Seoul Broadcasting System,
SBS. There are - recently four U.S. congressmen submitted a resolution to a House committee
calling for a reunion of Koreans in the United States. So there are a great number of Korean
Americans who have been waiting for their chance to meet their families in North Korea.
So I wonder if - have you ever discussion - did you ever had a discussion with your
members or any plans about this? Thank you.
AMBASSADOR KING: I've had discussions with the staff and with members of Congress about
this particular resolution and about the issue of Korean Americans who have relatives still
living in North Korea and their desire to meet with their family members. We've also
had conversations with the American Red Cross about trying to work out ways that this might
be done. So far we have not had much success on that, but as with many other things, we've
watched very closely what has happened in South Korea, the recent meetings there which
were very much followed closely by Korean Americans here in the United States. And we're
hopeful that we'll be able to work out an arrangement so that Americans of Korean ancestry
will be able to meet with relatives of North Korea as well. And so we continue to be very
supportive of trying to make progress on that.
MODERATOR: Oh. Yeah, go ahead, Alex. Yeah, it's all right.
QUESTION: Sorry, I just had another follow-up about the UN Security Council. I know you
didn't - you said that it's a - the issue hasn't been resolved yet. But I was wondering
what the U.S. position might be if it made it there. Do you have any concerns about the
U.S. position conflicting with China's position on this issue? I think a lot of people believe
that the U.S. puts more emphasis on the nuclear issue than human rights, and so I think there's
some speculation that the U.S. might shy away in terms of this in favor of making a deal
on the nuclear issue.
And then also, do you know if - if it doesn't go to UN Security Council, or maybe after
it goes through that, might it go through the International Criminal Court? Thank you.
AMBASSADOR KING: We're looking at those options, both of which have been recommended by the
Commission. We're looking at them closely. The question about taking the issue to the
Security Council is a question of the availability of time on the Security Council to consider
it. The other issue is what kind of action the council might take, and if it did, what
would that do? It's a question of looking at the pros and cons and the balance, and
we haven't reached a conclusion as to where we are on that.
With regard to the relationship with China and North Korea, on the Chinese nuclear issue,
we have had frequent discussions with the Government of China. They have been positive
discussions, and I thank both China and the United States have indicated our very strong
interest in seeing North Korea move away from nuclear weapons and towards the peaceful denuclearization
of the Korean Peninsula. And so on those issues, we have been working very closely with the
Chinese, yes.
MODERATOR: And then I think there was a question in the back. No?
QUESTION: Actually, I was going to follow up on the UN Security Council issue. I would
like to - oh, sorry. Radio Free Asia, Hee Jung Yang from Radio Free Asia. You mentioned
that U.S. position is not clear at this point regarding -
AMBASSADOR KING: Not resolved.
QUESTION: Not resolved at this point. But as far as I know, UK Government has - especially
parliamentarians that has outspokenly supported strong support - shown strong support. Is
there any reason why U.S. position is not decided yet?
AMBASSADOR KING: I think we are supportive of examining the issue. We've been very supportive
of the Commission of Inquiry. If it can be worked out to have this debated and discussed
in the Security Council, we certainly would be supportive of doing that. I think it's
a question of what's going on. Right now, the Security Council is fairly fully occupied
trying to deal with issue like Ukraine and this kind of thing, and it's a question of
can we get it on the agenda and can we have a productive discussion, and we're hopeful
that we can.
MODERATOR: Any last questions? Yeah, Bingru, up front here.
QUESTION: Thank you. I have two follow-ups. On the Human Rights Report, in - after you
released the report, China already said China will block the report from reaching International
Criminal Court. And then China foreign ministry said this issue concerning human rights should
be solved through constructive dialogue. So how are you going to have China on your side
in terms of human rights in North Korea?
And the second follow-up, on Kenneth Bae, is: He was detained in 2012. Since then, basically
the State Department hasn't - was - is not able to move forward any step. So what else,
what more can you do to secure his release?
AMBASSADOR KING: We continue to urge the North Koreans to release Kenneth Bae. He is in their
custody. He was in their country. He was arrested when he went into North Korea. So it's difficult
for us because we don't have control of him. We continue to urge the North Koreans to release
him on humanitarian grounds. Mr. Bae is suffering from some health conditions, as you know.
He was in the hospital for a period of time. He's been returned to a prison camp, and we're
hopeful that he will be released on humanitarian reasons, and until that happens, that he'll
be allowed to return to the hospital because of his health condition.
QUESTION: Are you optimistic?
AMBASSADOR KING: I'm hopeful. Optimistic, I don't know. As I say, we've expressed our
interest and concern. The fact that the North Koreans at least were willing to invite me
twice suggests maybe they're willing to talk about the issue. We'll hope they'll extend
the third invitation and the third time will be the charm.
QUESTION: (Off-mike.)
AMBASSADOR KING: With regard to China, we have discussions - we have very productive
discussions with the Chinese on human rights issues. We have a dialogue every year - once
in the United States, the following year in China. We raise all kinds of human rights
questions and human rights issues. And those are productive discussions. And I think we
continue to have that dialogue with the Chinese, and I think we both find it productive. I'm
hopeful that we'll be able to move in that direction with the North Koreans as well,
and that we'll be able to achieve the same kind of progress that we have in our relationship
with China.
QUESTION: Just final one. You okay to accept North Korea to use Kenneth Bae as a bargain
chip?
AMBASSADOR KING: The North Koreans said they were not going to use Kenneth Bae as a bargaining
chip. We don't think that's appropriate, absolutely not.
MODERATOR: All right. If there are no further questions, we can thank Ambassador King for
coming.