- Title: JAPAN: .S. East Asian and Pacific envoy hold a news conferene in Tokyo
- Date: 19th September 2009
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (SEPTEMBER 18, 2009) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE U.S. EMBASSY IN TOKYO AMERICAN FLAG U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE KURT CAMPBELL WALKING INTO THE NEWS CONFERENCE REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS KURT CAMPBELL SAYING: "There can be dialogues between various parties -- not only between North Korea and China, North Korea and South Korea, North Korea and Japan, but also North Korea and the United States. But what we will not do is entering into a separate diplomacy -- bilateral diplomacy -- between the United States and North Korea outside of the 6-party framework." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 4th October 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Reuters ID: LVAE6KZQ3Y609E385ZRVQWNDPG4K
- Story Text: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell gave a press conference in Tokyo on Friday (September 18) after meeting his Japanese counterparts earlier that day.
Campbell, one of the first U.S. delegates officially visiting Japan after the historic leadership change of the country last month, met with Japan's new foreign minister, Katsuya Okada, to discuss various issues including North Korean nuclear crisis and reinforcement of the U.S.-Japan alliance.
Regarding the growing speculations on U.S.-North Korea bilateral meeting, Campbell admitted the possibility of direct talks with the North while making it clear that the six-party framework would still be the main avenue for the U.S. dealing with North Korean issues.
"There can be dialogues between various parties -- not only between North Korea and China, North Korea and South Korea, North Korea and Japan, but also North Korea and the United States. But what we will not do is entering into a separate diplomacy -- bilateral diplomacy -- between the United States and North Korea outside of the six-party framework," said Campbell.
The U.S. State Department said early last month that it was prepared to hold direct talks with North Korea to try to coax it back into multilateral negotiations on ending its nuclear programs.
Campbell also spoke about his impression on Japan's new leadership.
"We view Japan as an equal partner, we welcome Japanese leadership, and we see Japan that it's committed to build strong relations in Asia," said Campbell.
The U.S.-Japan alliance, continuing for more than half a century, faces challenges and changes.
Japan plays host to about 47,000 U.S. military personnel and military bases, many of them on the southern island of Okinawa, often spark complaints of crime, noise, pollution and accidents.
New Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's Democratic Party, which swept to power in an election last month, has vowed to forge a more equal partnership with the United States and called for the revision of a deal on the redeployment of U.S. Marines in Japan. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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