Source: http://www.un.int/usa/06_255.htm http://www.un.int/usa/06_255.htm
Date: October 3, 2006

USUN PRESS RELEASE #  255(06)   
October 3, 2006 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 	 	 
Remarks by Ambassador John R. Bolton, U.S. Representative to the United Nations, on North Korea’s announcement to conduct nuclear tests in the future, at the Security Council stakeout, October 3, 2006 
Ambassador Bolton:  Well, I know you've heard from a number of others on the -- particularly on the situation with respect in North Korea.  What I urged today was that the Security Council actually engage in something we talk a lot about but don't do very much of, which is preventative diplomacy; to come up not just with a knee-jerk reaction to the North Korean announcement, but to develop a coherent strategy to prevent the -- to convince them that it's not in their interests to engage in nuclear testing.  And that's the reason why, contrary to the normal practice, there's no press statement today or anything like that.  That would be the expected reaction, that would be business as usual.  We'd probably be concerned about their announcement and maybe even deeply concerned. 
       But issuing a piece of paper is not the same as a having a policy, nor is it the same as a coherent well thought-out program of preventative diplomacy, and that's why -- it was at my suggestion, but agreed to by everyone else -- that we not issue something today, not that North Korea should take that silence for acquiescence.  North Korea should be more concerned about silence from the Security Council today than if we had issued a four-sentence press statement, because I hope it indicates that we will take very seriously what we said in Resolution 1695 about North Korea's programs and weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. 
       And so tomorrow, as Ambassador Churkin said, we'll be having a brainstorming session to see if we can come up with a coherent policy, and that's the schedule that the Council agreed on and that we'll now be pursuing.  This will give us a chance to consult with our respective capitals, consult with others here in New York and hopefully come up with some ideas tomorrow that we can put forward. 
Reporter: (Inaudible) how do you see that?
Ambassador Bolton:  Well, if I had the strategy today, of course, I would have laid it out in the Security Council, but having a decent respect for the opinions of our fellow members, we wanted to give all of them the chance to go back to their capitals.  But I think it should be more than simply saying in one quick piece of paper we don't think the test is a good idea.  We've already said that in Resolution 1695, which says that North Korea should not engage in any further provocative acts, that it should rejoin the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, resume conversations in the Six Party talks and otherwise get serious about giving up its pursuit of nuclear weapons. 
       So that was said three months ago, and the real question is whether we have an approach that will be value-added in terms of dissuading the North Koreans from conducting this test which they've threatened this morning. 
Reporter:  This weekend there will be several meetings between Japan and South Korea and Japan and China.  Would the United States like to see that process play out before any -- the Council takes any decision or -- 
Ambassador Bolton:  No, I don't think we have to wait until then.  I think the government of Japan expressed itself very forcefully this morning.  They're obviously quite concerned about this.  This is precisely the reason that we -- and Japan -- were concerned in July when North Korea launched ballistic missiles, and it's a demonstration of why it was right to put North Korea back on the Security Council's agenda and why it has to be a matter of the highest priority. 
Reporter:  Mr. Ambassador, how would you characterize compliance so far with the July 15th resolution? 
Ambassador Bolton:  In terms of the activities connected with the ballistic missile test, there haven't been any since then, but the North Koreans have also not come back to the Six Party talks.  They've shown no inclination to do that and they've shown no indication of moving away from their strategic decision to pursue nuclear weapons.  If anything, the announcement today shows exactly the opposite. 
Reporter:  Ambassador, on preventative diplomacy, do you think the talks with Iran are an example of preventative diplomacy? 
Ambassador Bolton:  No.  I think the talks with Iran are the outcome of the Security Council's Resolution 1696 that gave Iran until August the 31st to suspend its uranium enrichment activity. 
Reporter: And what's next on Iran, since it's after the date? 
Ambassador Bolton:  As I've said several times before, we have given the Europeans some latitude to have discussions with the government of Iran.  They've not produced anything.  Our position remains, we're not going to engage in the talks unless and until there's a full and verifiable suspension by Iran of its uranium enrichment activities.  Okay, anything else, then? 
Reporter: One thing in regards to the sanctions being imposed on the illicit activities by the North Korean government.  It seems that it's provoking much more of a reaction from them, first the missile launches, now the threat, this test.  Does the United States see that as sort of like an indication that the sanctions are working or to working? 
Ambassador Bolton:  I think you have cause and effect reversed, if I may say so.  I think the sanctions are getting their attention in a very significant way. 
       Okay, anything else?  Okay, thanks very much.