PRESS BRIEFING BY SPECIAL ADVISER MAURICE STRONG

PRESS BRIEFING BY SPECIAL ADVISER MAURICE STRONG

While not a direct participant of ongoing six-way talks aimed at addressing the nuclear issue with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Secretary-General was in an important position to help bring together international players willing to consider supporting a longer-term series of measures for economic revitalization of the country -- a necessary ingredient for finding a solution of the nuclear problem, said Maurice Strong, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General, at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon.

Describing for correspondents his recent trip to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and other countries in the region, which he had taken in preparation for the Beijing talks, Mr. Strong said that, while not actually “participating at the table”, the Secretary-General was a very active supporter of the process, in particular dealing with the issues that were essential for the settlement of the nuclear crisis, including humanitarian problems.  Also, it was becoming apparent that there could be no settlement of nuclear issues without a significant economic package, and the Secretary-General was working together with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and other parties interested in supporting the economic measures that would need to be taken as part of the settlement.

It was quite clear that there could be no major long-term economic support without such a settlement, but it was equally true that a settlement could not be achieved without a major economic dimension, he said.  Central to that was a solution to the country’s energy needs. 

The Beijing talks had been an important step forward, he stressed, bringing up hopes and expectations that success was possible.  He was “moderately pleased”, because following Beijing, there was now a prospect of a freeze of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear programme, which meant that there would be no further development of nuclear weapons, processing of plutonium, or any testing.  At the same time, however, the Government wanted a freeze on some of the restrictions that had been inhibiting the country’s economy.  It also wanted some immediate economic input.   The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea wanted to normalize its relations with the international community, but it also wanted the United States to rescind its so-called “hostile policies” and accompanying measures that constrained the country’s economy.  The role of the United Nations, while quietly supportive, was going to become more and more important as time went by. 

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, by its own choice, had had a very closed economy, he continued, but now it wanted to move out to the wider world.  The country’s interests required greater openness.  In fact, he had visited some of the newly-opened markets, which were really impressive, both in terms of a wide range of goods and consumer activity.  That was a sign that some of the reforms introduced by the Government were bearing fruit. 

The fundamentals of the country’s economy still remained severely constrained, however, he said.  They were simply not generating the investment required to improve the infrastructure and achieve long-term revitalization of the economy.  A number of countries, including China and South Korea, were willing to provide assistance.  The United States, while not willing to offer its own assistance up to now, did not object to the economic and humanitarian assistance from others.

Asked to comment on the “Pyongyang regime’s” chances for survival, Mr. Strong said that while words like “regime change” were politically loaded, change was necessary.  He noted the toughness, resilience and patriotism of the people, as well as their desire to ensure that their country survived and witnessed the reunification of the country.  As seen from the experience in Iraq, it was not easy to enforce change from the outside, but the country was changing on its own and in its own way. 

Referring to the confusion about an alleged threat by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to test a nuclear weapon, a correspondent asked what had actually happened.  Mr. Strong replied that he had not been there and did not know what exactly had happened.  However, with nuclear capability, there was always an implicit possibility that weapons would be tested.  He doubted that there had been an explicit threat to that effect, however. 

Responding to another question, he said that while he had not met with Kim Jong Il, he had spoken with members of his team, including high-level government officials.

Regarding United Nations efforts, he said that two working groups had been set up to address the energy options open to the country and make recommendations on possible macroeconomic reform measures.  The country wanted and needed reforms to prepare for “a broader entry” into the world economy.  The recommendations would be provided to the Government as part of the settlement of the nuclear issue, and it was important that such recommendations would be provided by an international experts’ team, and not by some special interest group.  He hoped that, by the end of the year, the working groups would produce a significant body of information, which would be provided to the decision-makers.

On energy options, he said that on a short-term basis, several countries, including the Republic of Korea and China, had agreed to provide fuel.  Possible long-term solutions included refurbishing coal mines, possible import of natural gas from the Russian Federation and even use of renewable sources of energy.

To a question about an apparent contradiction between his story about lively markets and reports about the famine and lack of food and shelter there, Mr. Strong replied that there was a United Nations team in the field, and he had travelled around the country himself.  The markets were real, and people were using them.  The Government had unfrozen both prices and wages, and as a result there was now a certain differentiation in the people’s level of income and purchasing power.  Another reform introduced in the country involved permission for farmers to have larger plots of land.  That had increased the farmers’ income and the output of produce.

While the situation had improved, large groups of population, particularly children, remained vulnerable, however, he added.  The World Food Programme (WFP) and other agencies were providing assistance to the people.  Fundamental economic problems still must be addressed.  Asked about the possibility of the sale of nuclear weapons by North Korea, Mr. Strong said that while there was talk about that in the mass media, he had heard no such talk in Pyongyang.  There was also no real evidence to that effect.

A correspondent asked if any of the Global Compact companies had expressed interest in providing assistance to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.  Mr. Strong said that none of those companies was actively involved in the issue, but some of them had bee a source of useful information.

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