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MS. HARF: Sure, North Korea.
QUESTION: So we’ve all seen the statement that Jen put out, or that you put out under
Jen’s name, yesterday. Do you have – well, a couple things. One, for the record, does
former Ambassador Donald Gregg’s apparent visit to North Korea – is it at the behest
of or does he in any way represent the United States Government?
MS. HARF: No. It’s a private delegation, did not travel on behalf of the United States
Government.
QUESTION: Okay. And so he’s not making any representations for you while he’s there?
MS. HARF: Correct. He is not.
QUESTION: Second, do you have any understanding of why the North rescinded the invitation
to Ambassador King?
MS. HARF: Not to my knowledge. They’ve obviously done this before. So I don’t have more details
about why that offer was rescinded.
QUESTION: Well, was the statement – Jen’s statement from yesterday made mention of the
military exercises and how the – did they tell you that that was the reason?
MS. HARF: So – not to my knowledge. I’m happy to check with our team. We wanted to
make --
QUESTION: But that’s what you think?
MS. HARF: Well, we wanted to make clear, in case there was any confusion anywhere, that
the military exercises that were referenced are, again, regularly scheduled, transparent,
not aimed. They’re defense-oriented, I think, is the term we used. I can check if there
was a more specific reason given. I think we just wanted to make that crystal clear
if there was any confusion.
QUESTION: Okay, but what about the (inaudible) the two things for several weeks? I mean,
they’ve been trying to link everything, it seems like, to the --
MS. HARF: Exactly, and I’ve sort of given up guessing about what the motivations of
the North Korean regime are.
QUESTION: Would you at least check for us whether they did mention it?
MS. HARF: I can check on that, yes.
QUESTION: Okay. And whether they gave any reason whatsoever in rescinding the offer?
MS. HARF: Mm-hmm.
North Korea?
QUESTION: What about the (inaudible) flying to that area?
MS. HARF: Sorry, I couldn’t hear you because she was talking. You go first. One at a time.
QUESTION: Go ahead.
MS. HARF: I’ll get – go first, go ahead. Yeah.
QUESTION: Okay. What about the (inaudible) flying to the North Korean peninsula? Is it
– is that one of the reasons for rescind by North Korea?
MS. HARF: Again, I don’t have a lot of clarity, and I’m not sure anyone does, on why the
offer was rescinded. I’m happy to check with our team.
Yeah.
QUESTION: On – I think North Korea linkages everything in – like, family reunion, North
and South, also Kenneth Bae release. I don’t think they can release in – anything about
the North Korean authority said at the – Germany and North Korea embassy. He said they’re
not going to release Kenneth Bae at all, so --
MS. HARF: Well, our position on Kenneth Bae hasn’t changed. He should be released immediately
and returned to his family. We are concerned about his health, as you saw the statement
over the weekend, particularly now that he’s been transferred. And we will keep pushing
for his release in any way we can.
QUESTION: But does the U.S. have any other options to take it – pressure to North Korea
for release of Kenneth Bae? Do you have another option?
MS. HARF: Well, I don’t have additional details for the kind of diplomatic pressure,
efforts we’ve been putting forth. We’ve said repeatedly that this is a top priority
for us, and we’re going to pursue all avenues to have him released.
QUESTION: Marie, there are particular previous examples of very high-profile dignitaries
traveling to North Korea to secure the releases of Americans held there. Is that being considered
as an option in this case?
MS. HARF: Well, for example, at the request of the Bae family, we – I think people are
aware that Reverend Jackson – Jesse Jackson – had offered to travel to Pyongyang on
a humanitarian mission focused on Bae’s release. We support the efforts, of course,
of the family, but also of Reverend Jackson to bring Kenneth Bae home. So again, we want
him to come home. The North Koreans should release him. And we are – we stand ready
to send our folks in, certainly – our folks, Ambassador King – if they reissue an offer.
QUESTION: Has State had contact with Jesse Jackson about this? Have there been any plans
made in terms of a trip that he might make there or --
MS. HARF: Well, we certainly support the efforts. I’m happy to check and see if we’ve had
contact. I don’t know the answer.
QUESTION: You’ve seen, I’m sure, the quotes attributed to Mr. Bae that were published
in a Japanese newspaper. And I am told, but I have not myself seen, what has been described
to me as video of an interview with him, I think, in the presence of the protecting power.
I’m not certain of that, though. Do you believe that the quotes, either in the video
or in the newspaper, are bona fide and that they were un-coerced, as it were? Or are you
suspicious of the circumstances under which he is quoted?
MS. HARF: Well, we did note – and I think he included an apology, I believe, if I remember
correctly – we noted the statements that he made. I’m happy to check and see about
the coercion issue and if the protecting power was there. I’m just not entirely sure. Again,
what we said last week is that the last visit that the protecting power had was February
7th when we learned that he had, in fact, been transferred to the labor camp. I’m
happy to check and see if there’s more on that.
QUESTION: The North Koreans didn’t say anything about why they not release the – Kenneth
Bae, reason why?
MS. HARF: They haven’t told me.
QUESTION: They didn’t have any official or anything through the channel?
MS. HARF: I’m happy to check with our folks and see if we have more clarity on that. We’ve
been very clear that there’s no reason to keep him incarcerated.
Yes. Anything else on this? Scott.
QUESTION: Yeah. Given all these difficulties, how does the Secretary hope to advance the
cause of Mr. Bae’s release when he’s in the region this week?
MS. HARF: Well, as the note we put out about his visit to the region in Seoul, he will
meet with senior government officials; reaffirm, of course, the strength of our alliance; also
will meet in Beijing with some senior folks to talk about the relationship. Obviously,
it’s not a – right, it’s not the primary focus of the trip. We have a broad range of
issues to discuss. But anytime we go to the region, obviously, it’s something that we’re
asked about, and it’s a top priority for us.
So if there’s any other ways we can try to advance the cause of getting him released,
we’re happy to do so, but I think these meetings are really focused on bilateral issues
mostly, as far as I know.
QUESTION: Might one of those ways be speaking with the Chinese?
MS. HARF: Well, of course the Chinese enjoy a special relationship with the North Korean
Government that has proved helpful in pushing some of our mutual goals, right – whether
it’s denuclearization of the peninsula, getting North Korea to stop taking provocative
actions. Certainly, if there would – could be a role – again, I don’t know that there
is, but if there could be, I’m sure we’d be happy to have that conversation.
QUESTION: Is the State Department considering asking Dennis Rodman to go and negotiate Mr.
Bae’s release?
MS. HARF: Not that I have heard. And it’s funny; I did a talk this weekend at my--alumna
for my university and I got asked about Dennis Rodman, and they said, “I bet you never
get asked this,” and I said, “Oh, believe me, I get asked about Dennis Rodman a lot,
and I can assure you he’s not there representing the U.S. Government.” (Laughter.)
QUESTION: Why isn’t the Secretary going to Japan on this trip?
MS. HARF: We – schedules sometimes permit certain places for certain reasons. Obviously,
Japan is a key ally. I believe Deputy Secretary Burns was just there. No specific reason that
I know of.