http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ASIANOW/east/10/23/albright.northkorea.ap/
Albright in historic meeting with North Korea's Kim Jong Il
October 23, 2000
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright held unprecedented talks today with North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Il, as she began laying the groundwork for a visit by President Clinton to one of the last bastions of the Cold War.
With a firm handshake, Albright and Kim moved their two nations -- longtime adversaries -- a bit closer.
Kim noted that Albright was the first U.S. secretary of state to visit North Korea. "This is a new one from a historical point of view," he said. "I am really very happy."
Responded Albright: "I'm very glad to be here in your beautiful city."
Albright arrived to a low-key arrival ceremony that belied the significance of her visit. Asked if the United States was moving too quickly in the relationship with North Korea, she said, "We're not moving faster than it makes sense."
Images of Kim's father and North Korea founder Kim Il Sung were everywhere as Albright traveled from the airport to downtown, a reminder of the country's communist origins more than 50 years ago. The face of the "Great Leader," as he is called, beamed from an airport mural, from billboards and from signs adorning buildings along Albright's route.
Her first stop was at the Kim Il Sung Palace, which was converted into a mausoleum after his death in 1994.
Despite the overtures inherent in Albright's visit and the efforts to set up one by Clinton, U.S. officials warned in advance that serious differences remained between the two nations.
Of primary concern is North Korea's missile development program and its export of missiles to Iran and Syria. Albright planned to discuss those issues with Kim Jong Il but officials said no agreements are expected.
South Korean officials welcomed the Albright trip. "We must consider as desirable the North Korean moves to set up new relations with the outside world," said presidential spokesman Park Joon-young.
Some critics feared, however, the visit might make Pyongyang less willing to talk to the South.
Albright and Kim met in the luxury guest house where she was staying. Plush carpet lined the floors, and crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling. Later Monday, she planned to attend a dinner hosted by Kim.
North Korea is suffering from a severe food shortage, and Albright visited a kindergarten in the Rang Nang District that participates in the U.N. World Food Program
The kindergarten children, lined up in neat rows on a dirt playground, performed traditional dances for Albright, who mimicked their motions. A small boy hid behind a sack of U.S.-donated wheat while a classmate tossed the white powder at him.
The United States has contributed nearly 1.5 million tons of food to the U.N. program, Albright said.
She told the food program staff: "Your work is vital because these children and their brothers and sisters around the country should be able to grow up without fear of emergency shortages and famine. And international donors should be assured that the supplies they send are used for the purposes intended."
Later, Kim asked her how the kindergarten visit went. "I danced with the children. I'm very satisfied," she said.
As Clinton seeks to build a foreign policy legacy in the waning days of his administration, his opening toward North Korea seems more promising than any other, a turn of events few would have predicted six years ago when the two counties seemed close to war.
Kim has shown a surprise willingness to reciprocate to Clinton's moves to seek accommodation. He has been reaching out not only to the United States but to other countries, most notably South Korea.
In a communique issued two weeks ago at the conclusion of a visit to Washington by Jo Myong Rok, a top Kim adviser, the two nations pledged "to take steps to fundamentally improve their bilateral relations in the interests of enhancing peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region."
Kim thanked Albright for her making the arrangements for Jo's visit and ensuring that it went smoothly.
The threat of war has hung over the Korean peninsula since the end of the Korean War in 1953. About 37,000 American troops are stationed in South Korea.
"The U.S. government is very clear, as is the Republic of Korea, that American military forces need to remain in Korea even after there is a reduction in tension and even if there is reunification on the Korean peninsula," State Department official Morton Halperin said Monday during a visit to Canberra, Australia.
"We are at a historic moment in which the last remaining Cold War confrontation may finally be coming to an end," he said. "As we move forward we need to move carefully, we need to remember that there is still a very serious North Korean military threat on the peninsula."
The United States is considering the creation of a national missile defense, partly out of concern that North Korea may someday direct ICBM's at American cities.
North Korea has for years ignored American efforts to stop it from exporting missiles. There are indications that Pyongyang may be beginning to listen to those concerns.
Albright's visit to North Korea followed one by China's defense minister, Gen. Chi Haotian. In meetings Sunday with North Korea's defense minister, Vice Marshal Kim Il Chol, Chi promised that China would maintain strong military ties with Pyongyang, according to Chinese state media.
China has ties with both North and South Korea.
After two days of talks in North Korea, Albright planned to fly across the Demilitarized Zone to Seoul to brief senior officials from Japan and South Korea. Both nations continue to be nervous about North Korea's military.