U.S. to continue pressing N. Korea for denuclearization: Mullen

(ATTN: ADDS State Dept. spokesman's remarks in paras 10-12)
By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, July 24 (Yonhap) -- The United States will continue pressing North
Korea with international sanctions to denuclearize, the top U.S. military officer
said Friday.

"Certainly, the goal on everybody's part is to have a North Korea with no nuclear
weapons, and that pressure will continue," Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the Junior Statesmen Summer School Program at the
Pentagon.
Mullen's remarks reflect the view of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who
said in Phuket, Thailand on Thursday, "Full normalization of relations, a
permanent peace regime, and significant energy and economic assistance are all
possible in the context of full and verifiable denuclearization."
Clinton also warned that North Korea "will face international isolation and the
unrelenting pressure of global sanctions" until it agrees to denuclearization.
A North Korean representative to the annual ASEAN Regional Forum at the Thai
resort island, Ambassador Ri Hung-sik, however, dismissed Clinton's proposal as
"nonsense."
"The six-party talks are already dead," he said, due to Washington's "hostile
policy" toward Pyongyang.
The U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution last month to rebuke the North for
its nuclear test on May 25, the second after one in 2006.
The resolution bans the North from any further nuclear and ballistic missile
tests and imposes financial sanctions and an overall arms embargo. It also
authorizes cargo interdictions to head off the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction, including nuclear arms.
The Security Council also slapped fresh sanctions on North Korea last week by
listing five North Korean officials and as many North Korean firms subject to a
travel ban and asset freeze for their involvement in nuclear and missile
development programs.
In a related move, Philip Crowley, assistant secretary of state for public
affairs, said in a daily news briefing that North Korea's nuclear ambitions will
be a major topic at the U.S.-China strategic dialogue next week.
"I would think there will be significant time devoted to the situation in North
Korea," Crowley said. "I think that there's just ... ongoing dialogue comparing
notes in terms of implementation of 1874 and taking stock of whatever
developments have occurred since they last met."
He was discussing Clinton's meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Phuket
earlier this week over North Korea and other issues.
Mullen, meanwhile, said he is concerned about North Korea's possible
proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction to terrorist
groups.
"Those who lead terrorist organizations, al Qaeda in particular, have been very
open and direct about their desire to get a nuclear device and continue to
terrorize people in accordance with their strategic approach, killing as many
Americans and westerners as they possibly can with a device like that, although
not specifically necessary limited to just westerners," he said. "So it's a ...
very dangerous time. Those are very dangerous weapons. And we'd like to contain
them and see them over time reduced as much as possible."
Similar concerns over proliferation have been expressed by other senior U.S.
officials in recent days.
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Thursday that the U.S. is closely
monitoring any efforts by North Korea to proliferate its weapons of mass
destruction.
"The United States is fulfilling its obligations," Whitman said. "We are,
obviously, watching North Korea closely from many different aspects -- the
proliferation aspect, shipping, as well as monitoring missile activities."
Adm. Timothy Keating, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, Wednesday took
issue with North Korea's alleged military cooperation with Myanmar, formerly
called Burma.
"If it is, in fact, Burma that is receiving goods and assistance from North
Korea, that's against -- that violates United Nations Security Council Resolution
1718," Keating said. "And we, along with the international community, would be
very concerned if that is, in fact, occurring."
Clinton Wednesday expressed "growing concerns" over "military cooperation between
North Korea and Burma, which we take very seriously."
A North Korean cargo ship, possibly on its way to Myanmar, returned home recently
after a pursuit by U.S. Navy vessels operating under an interdiction mandate
imposed recently by the U.N. Security Council.
hdh@yna.co.kr
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