Daily Press Briefing Sean McCormack, Spokesman Washington, DC May 19, 2006
QUESTION: It is reported today North Korea is about to launch intercontinental missile Taepo Dong-2 that is known to reach the Western part of the United States. What is your comment on that?
MR. MCCORMACK: Well, I've seen those news reports, but certainly, because of the closed nature of North Korea, I think that you might reasonably assume that whatever one might know about such activities or whether or not they're taking place would be based on intelligence information. And I, of course, don't comment on intelligence information. If, in fact, North Korea did launch a long-range missile, it would be a real source of concern to the international community. They haven't done so since 1998. That was the last time they launched a long-range missile.
Since then, they have abided by a moratorium on the launch or testing of long-range missiles and we believe that such a launch would also contravene the letter and the spirit of the September 19th joint statement -- September 19th, 2005, which North Korea signed onto. So again, I don't have -- I can't provide any confirmation or denial about those reports, but if, in fact, there were such a launch, it would be a real source of concern.
QUESTION: Thanks.
QUESTION: A follow-up. Has there been any reaction, direct or indirect, by North Korea toward the Administration floating, again, the idea of if it would do A, B, and C, there might be a normal relationship?
MR. MCCORMACK: Well, I think the way I would put it is maybe the New York Times was floating something. I wouldn't say the U.S. Government was floating any particular proposal. I haven't heard of any particular reaction, Barry. I'll be happy to check to see if there is -- if we have heard one through the New York channel or indirectly through others.
QUESTION: Do you have any reaction or comment to the declaration on Iraq made yesterday by --
MR. MCCORMACK: Oh, we'll get back to that. I didn't realize you wanted to stay on North Korea.
QUESTION: Why would the launch of a missile from North Korea be a source of concern? You're not particularly concerned, are you, about the accuracy of any of their missiles? Can they actually hit a barn door?
MR. MCCORMACK: What it says about North Korea and North Korea's thinking and about North Korea's engagement -- desire to engage with the rest of the world and to address some of the concerns that the rest of the world has had about their behavior, many of those concerns have centered on North Korea's nuclear program as well as their development of means to deliver potential nuclear weapons. So that's really the basis -- I think that would be the basis of the concern. What it says about North Korea's intentions, what it says about their motivations and what it says about their seriousness about abiding by commitments that they've made.
QUESTION: There's been a moratorium on missile testing --
