south korea, commercial and establishments, 6 miles from the dmz, the cooperation on north sides, they relented that pressure. is that your observation? what observation can you give in terms of south korea/north korea? >> i am not sure i understand what you are referring to, with regard to the industrial loan. there have been a number of conversations between the north and south for some time. we follow those with interest and we would be happy to get back to you as to where those are going. >> that may well be the name of the site. because it appeared at a moment when north korea was very aggressive with regard to south korea. there were some talks and negotiations proceeding. it was interesting in view of the other measures. >> my impression is that is correct. i find it of some interest and it will demonstrate a willingness on the part of north korea to look at its own self-interest and make decisions based on that. >> what is your impressions so far following the economic sanctions activity about the economy of the country? normal reports, many people throughout the country are sorely deprived, near starvation, malnutrition much of the time. this has led the international community

north korea? caller: of course it is. north korea and southorea several times have come close to reunification and the american press starts to go do their thing for the pentagon. and then north korea reacts. the only reason we have not invaded them is because they have got that atomic bomb. host: here's hampton, va. on our democrats' line. caller: thank you so much, c- span. i enjoy your guests, especially the men who spoke just a few minutes ago. i would like to say that i hope these young ladies will be able to come back, and do important journalistic work here in the u.s.a., nonetheless, while they are in north korea i don't think we should take a bully attitude of sanctioning and pointing our fingers to the bad boys of north korea. the journalists know that they take on missions that are possibly dangerous for themselves. i hope that our country stands by then, but i don't think we can accuse north korea of making sure that their borders are protected. we don't go over their borders and we don't want them to come over to our borders. we h

that pressure, is that your observation or what information can you give it in terms of the south korea north korea commercial? >> i am not sure i understand exactly what you are referring to, senator. it is with regard to the industrial zone at quezon, then there are a number of conversations between the north and the south under way for some time we have followed those with interest and i think we would be happy to get back to you as to where we think those are going. >> and mention in that may well be the name of decided that i have in mind, because it seemed in a moment the north koreans had been aggressive with regard and threatening military action there seemed to be some talks and negotiations proceedings which was interesting and in view of all the other provocative activities. >> my impression is that is correct and i do find it of interest and hopefully it will demonstrate willingness on the part of north korea to look at its own self-interest and make decisions based on that. >> what is your impression still following the economic sanction activity about the economy of the country? norma

korea. north korea conducted another nuclear test, launched several intercontinental ballistic missiles and expanded all interkorean agreements, including the armistice that has maintained peace between north and south korea since 1953. even more alarming, mr. speaker, north korea removed the iaea inspectors at yongbin and starting its plutonium production program within the ultimate aim of weaponizing its nuclear materials. meanwhile, amid the hostile brinkmanships, two american journalists were captured, tried and sentenced to 12 years in prison for reform by hard labor. north korea's leader, kim jong il, has led it be known that his son, kim jeong un, will succeed him. north korea's communist leadership regime is being solidified into a totalitarian, authority yarian regime. -- authoritarian regime. this pass presipiated a congressional response to north korea's hostile acts while also sending a message of the strong solidarity of support to our close friend and ali, the republic of korea. just last friday, the united nations security council unanimously adopted a resolution condemning, and i quote, in the strongest terms possible north korea's nuclear test, imposing new sanctions, demanding that the d

north korea. we're stretched very thin around the world. we always have to worry about north korean retaliation. they really hold the capital of south korea, seoul, at risk. it's very close to where north korea has all of its artillery. seoul is a beautiful and very vibrant city. so we really have to be careful about military actions that -- it wouldn't just be a one-off action. we have to be really concerned about retaliation. host: let me go back to this headline, front page of the "u.s. times." in listening to some of the discussions over the last 24 hours or so it seems like there are two different tracks dealing with these two journalists and getting them freed and the larger issue of trying to bring -- to keep north korea from developing nuclear weapons. how do they connect? guest: i think the north koreans are trying to connect them and we're trying to disconnect them so north koreans are looking for any way to get international attention to get the u.s. back to the table to extract concessions from the united states. meanwhile, the united states is trying to disconnect them by going through asia right now and trying to get tougher

of international law. >> right now north korea, there was a question about whether we fear an imminent attack by north korea. six years ago north korea invaded south korea. they began a war. after that there were numerous announced threats levelled against south korea ever since. however, south korea, we have always been very firm in our response. this is based on the firm cooperation and partnership an alliance between korea and the u.s.. when the north koreans look at that alliance we have between our two countries they will think twice about taking any measures they will regret. again, this firm alliance we have between the u.s. and korea will prevent anything from happening. of course, north korea may have wished to do something, but they will not be able to do so. >> a question going to president lee, north korea recently said that they will not return to the six party talks. they have denounced the u.n. security council resolution and said they will not give up the nuclear weapons program. can you, sir, about how you plan to proceed forward? did you talk about this with president obama? there's a continuing threat emanating from north korea

of international law. >> right now, north korea, there was a question about whether we fear an imminent attack by north korea. 60 years ago north korea invaded south korea, and they began a war. after that, there were numerous amount of threats leveled against south korea ever since. however, south korea, we have always been very firm in our response and always prepared. and of course this is based firmly on the firm cooperation of partnership and alliance between the riot under korea and the united states. and north koreans when i look at the firm order should we have between our two countries they will think twice about taking any measures that they will regret. and again, this very firm alliance that we have between the united states and korea is going to prevent anything from happening. and of course, north korea may have -- may wish to do so but of course they will not be able to do so. >> a question going out to president lee. north korea recently said that they will not return to the six party talks. they have denounced the un security council resolution, and said they will not give up their nuclear weapons program. can you, sir, talk about

in time, you're seeing that the disparity between the standard of living in north korea, the standard of living in south korea is known. we believe that north korea is going to have to come back to a process. whether that is successful, we will have to wait and see. we have had successful negotiations with north korea. we have had difficulty with getting north korea actually falling -- following through and implementing what it has agreed to. if you look at the roller coaster we have been on with north korea in recent years, there have been times they have played a constructively, and right now they're obviously acting in a way that is not constructive. >> are the north korean people aware of the disparity? >> i am not going to get into a debate on the modern media, but there are realities that are fairly well known. the elites of north korea do travel. >> i am not suggesting -- right now, there is no reason to think that things are not stable, but i would think that over time, the gap between north korea and the rest of the region is growing larger eventually, -- this is what is tragic about the situation. n

south korea. my suggestion to him in is a tube that has pictures of their nightlife and markets. i realize that when they send balloons over to north korea from south korea, they are told not to touch it, because it will give them diseases. like the christmas cards to you by the has music playing, had a message there. if we wanted to kill you, this would be a bomb -- it would cost several millions dollars. [unintelligible] whenever you kill, somebody on one side of town -- that opens the opportunity for one of your relatives to be killed on the other side of town. host: any comments? guest: the iranian regime was formed in parts of the united states. those who were trying to create change are worried that they will be tarred with a certain image. george bush by asking congress to vote moneys specifically to support those seeking democratic change in iran created a problem for them, because now they look like they are agents to the u.s.. the bush policy regime change made it difficult. obama has dropped that policy. we are not asked to change the regime. the iranians want change, we welcome what they choose for themselves. host: back to t

north korean strategy. did the lack of a strong, unified and persistent response by china, russia, japan, south korea and the united states to test provocative actions north korea's actions to proceed with the latest nuclear test? do north korean officials believe their relationship with iran or syria will be permitted to develop without consequence if those relationships include cooperation on weapons of mass destruction. what is the nature of the cargo and north korean planes and ships arriving in burma, which is sometimes a transit point for further global destinations. russia has been transparent in its cooperation with burma in the development of a nuclear reactor reportedly for medical research purposes. is north korea contributing to the development of burma's nuclear program and if so, what way? what level of international cooperation exist to scrutinize north korea's global trading network and its potential proliferation route and can sufficient cooperation be improved? is there is efficacy and current status of agreements related to the six-party talks and the north korean nuclear program? in essence, would any new negotiations be starting from square o

the government of north korea to abandon its current cause and to engage constructively with the international community and to return to the six-party talks. thank you. >> south korea has already sent troops to its northern border and north korea looks set to attempt a test. is it certain this does nothing to insert on the peninsula? >> it's far too early to tell what its effects will be. but what the resolution clearly does is give the security council and international community stronger tools with which to prevent north korea continuing with its nuclear and missile programs. >> isn't it sort of difficult to argue that these sanctions and financial restrictions will affect the beleaguerd people of north korea who need help? >> no. the sanctions. if you read the resolution the sanctions are very clearly targeted at the missiles and nuclear programs. >> any loans from financial institutions of the world? >> other than those with development and humanitarian objectives. >> exclusion of or the allowing the sale of small arms and light weapons to north korea, is that something that the u.k. supported? >> we would have preferred to see an even broader ban. but this is

south korea and japan. we're growing to be focused on implementing that resolution. beyond that, north korea knows what it has to do. north korea needs to give up all of this its rhetoric, a belligerent actions, and return to the six party talks unconditionally. >> with respect to those talks, today the secretary meets with the president of south korea in the blair palace later this afternoon. if things get dramatic and they keep separate from these nuclear missiles. you're trying to the un to institute sanctions, vessels, airlines, what have you, now it appears over the last two months that both the chinese and the russians are going back and what they have said. would you put north korea under total lock down? back with the cubans five years ago, we call that a quarantine. that is not what necessarily what many people would call a blockade. are other countries willing to go much further? >> we want to work with what we have, the resolution that we have which is targeted. we do not want to have any kind of resolution that would harm, necessarily, the north korean people. that is what we're

north korea. we had good cooperation from all of the permanent members of the security council plus japan and south koreaand and ultimately all of the members of council looking to get unanimously behind this tough resolution which we believe sends a very strong message to north korea that they need to change course. thank you. >> thank you. i wanted to ask you about this interdiction. what is the united states doing to try to localize more resources into the waters and other regions where these vessels might be to take part in interdiction, and how aggressive is the administration going to be on that? >> well, let me just explain to you the steps that we will take when we have reason to believe that a vessel is carrying suspect cargo. first of all, we are going to ramp up and intensify our existing efforts to gather information, or that would allow us to determine if there is a suspect mosul on the high seas. when we have that information -- if there is a suspect vessel on the high seas. when we have that information, we will make it available to all states concerned, so the flag state, the potential po

and south korea have been pointed 11 underground sites in north korea where it it could conduct a third nuclear test. this, and of a summit between the two allies on the north's growing atomic threat. south korean president is on his way to washington for a meeting tomorrow with president obama appeared this just in it, prime minister von brunn's office says britain will hold a long- awaited in kuwait into iraq war -- prime minister board and brown. he pledged to examine mistakes made during and after the 2003 invasion. lawmakers and anti-war protesters have called for the inquiry to be held in public and to scrutinize what they say were a wide range of errors and post-war planning. the prime minister will make

north korea. we're working with china, russia, south korea, japan, other neighboring states -- states that have a great stake as we do. they went along with these measures because they also believe that a strong signal needed to be sent to north korea and we fully expect them to implement this cooperative lee with us and others. . . and more broadly in the northeast asian region. we're working together for that and. the message to north korea is that it does not benefit from taking further steps to destabilize the peninsula, or the larger region. it pays a price for that action. >> what was the reason you gave [inaudible] >> no symbolic message at all. we have worked extremely hard over the course -- that is another question. we have worked extremely hard over the last two and a half plus weeks with colleagues to get to where we got to today. we were confident that we were going to get a unanimous vote. and a strong set of statements by members of the council, we have that and with that i was comfortable with being here today. >> if there is a change in government, [inaudible] >> american policy w

south korea and japan. where are going to be focused on implementing that resolution. and beyond that north korea knows what it has to do. north korea needs to give up all this. all this rhetoric and belligerent actions and return to the six party talks unconditionally. >> with respect to those talks, today the secretary made some with the president from south korea at the blair house later this afternoon. >> right. >> if things get dramatically worse, especially with the two journalists that you want to see separated from these nuclear tests and missile tests you are trying to and through the u.n. to institute sanctions. in other words, lookit vessels, airlines, what have you. now it appears over a time of two months now both the chinese and the russians are now backing what she said. but what you put the country, meaning north korea, under total lockdown? i guess with the cubans back 45 years ago or whenever, we called it then in 1961/628 quarantine. it's not necessarily what many people when say would be a blockade but are we and other countries willing to go much further? >> i mean, we want t

north korea and iran. on north korea they write the threat of a north korean attack on the south is small, but also the danger of nuclear proliferation, the u.s. and its allies, is clear and present. we know p'yongyang has proliferated to iran and syria in the recent past. senator john mccain said yesterday -- he was on "face the nation" -- that the u.s. should board the boat the u.s. is shadowing off the coast of korea and count on domestic political support. will the president let kim jong- il make a mockery of u.n. condemnation? utah, good morning to dan, independent collar. caller: i just want to say i think obama is doing a good job by staying out of iran. also i think that the caller who called about is -- why always supporting is russell much? i think everybody should go to the internet and look of the uss liberty and research of that. it is israel tried to get us to go to war. " scud you think israel is involved in the iranian situation -- host cut you think israel is involved in the arena situation? caller: i just like the other person said, what have they done to us? host: what should be worked -- w

korea. i am not aware, i certainly have not had any communications with the chinese in terms of north korea. >> i have not, although i know admiral keating has engaged both japanese and south korea, and i am not aware of any contact with china. >> you correctly said in terms of pakistan, there was a ship after long time of paying lip service, pakistan takes the taliban as a threat. is there a shift in the way that the chinese view north korea and are more amenable to the thought that north korea is a problem for them as well, not just the u.s.? >> that remains to be seen. communicating that message was one of the purposes of the delegation led by jim steinberg, the secretary of state, to china a week or two ago. it was, yes, we understand your concern about instability in north korea and its implications for you, but you need also to be concerned about the implications of instability in northeast asia created by the behavior of north korea. since that visit was relatively recently, it remains to be seen whether it had any impact. tom? >> talking about iran and communications, the obama administration has announced a new initiative on the cyber command on terror. it is the pentag

north korea. we had good cooperation from all of the permanent members of the security council, plus japan and south koreaand ultimately all of the members of the council who came unanimously behind this tough resolution, which we believe sends a strong message to north korea that they need to change course. thank you. >> i wanted to ask you about the introduction portion. what is the u.s. doing to -- the interdiction portion. what is the u.s. doing in international waters to take part in interdiction, and how aggressive is the administration going to get on that front? >> let me explain to the steps we will take in the event that we have reason to believe that a vessel is carrying suspect cargo first, we will ramp up and intensify our existing efforts to gather information that would allow us to determine if there is a suspect vessel on the high seas. when we have that information, we will endeavor to make its immediately available to all states concerned. so, the flag state, the potential port state, the state of --ç the potential port of origin, and all of the states in a rout that the ship is travell

encouraging that all of these nations, china, russia, japan, south korea, and the united states are sending the same as in -- the same message to north korea. when we have the next high-level meeting on that, we will let you know. >> there was an attack on the leading members of somalia today -- sorry. >> i am wondering if north korea is starting to close out its foreign bank accounts. are they drawn large amounts of cash from foreign banks? the new know anything about this? >> i do not. -- do you know anything about this? >> i do not. they will find ways to put additional financial pressure on north korea. we have used those tools in the past. it would not surprise me if north korea has taken action in response. >> [unintelligible] are you designing the same kind of regime that you had against the sanctions, the recensions you had against iran? financial banks, and things like that? >> there is a process where we are looking at how to best implements the council resolution. in terms of how we're reviewing, we're still in the process. >> isn't that separate though? >> of the separate entities that are responsible here. we have the ability

north korea as it is we are faced with the following. jetsons the beginning of this year north korea has abrogated the 1991 north-south denuclearization accords, outsit iab instructions and walked out of the six-party talks and begun to restart its nuclear facilities ed pyongyang and is conducted yet another nuclear test and it has done so in contravention of its own formal commitments to denuclearized. the obama administration's response to this is then measured in, but firm and early on president obama appointed ambassador bosworth, my distinguished colleague, as a special reports and a bit and for anyone who knows ambassador bosworth and his reputation that appointment clearly signal the u.s. intention to deal with the high level and deposited in pragmatic way. many americans to deal with north korea including me were deeply impressed by president obama's commitment to diplomacy and resetting relations with adversaries and as a result we conveyed to our north korean interlocutors in the strongest possible terms in recent months that the arrival of this the administration was an historic opportunity to put the u.s. and the dprk relationship

south korea and the united states when responding to a question about the north korean threat. did he ask for an assurance from the president that if there's a military strike against south korea that the u.s. will respond to that? that it's unequivocably undreamt unequivocal? >> we've had that type of relationship. >> and that's the way we should be the word firms and all that. >> absolutely. look, this is something that we have responded to. i think as we have said many times before, the increasingly -- the reactions of the north koreans in alienating themselves from their own responsibilities and isolating themselves from the rest of the world, that they are going alone down a different path. the president believes there is a different way for north korea, and i think what he discussed today with president lee was a continuation of the strong relationship that we have with the republic of korea. and the strong international reactions and steps that have been taken to coordinate that responds it could take some extremely tough actions, all of what ambassador rice outlined just last week. i remember not long after the first launch in late march and early april, there was some

south korea. the u.s. and the au working together to engage china and india on global climate change. north korea, i do not have to say much about that. the development of long-range ballistic missiles impact the debate in europe. this link has been apparent since the u.s. entered wwii. we will continue to flow our boat in the pacific. so we will now have someone introduce our speaker and later moderate the q&a session. this man is a pillar of the atlantic council. he provides me and the rest of our leadership strategic advice as well as sound legal advice. i am still free and have not yet been incarcerated because of this advice. i am grateful for your service, walt. [applause] [applause] >> thank you. it is a great honor to be asked to introduce that roe keating. he has that kind of resume that mere mortals only dream of. he graduated from the naval academy in 1971. shortly thereafter, began a distinguished career as a legal aviator. the most impressive thing is not the stress on his sleeve or the stars, if he were wearing a slightly different uniform, but it is that he is carried out 1200 arre

south korea's strength. we have got a lot of cards to play here, so i am really quite confident that if we played them intelligently, i think north korea's longer term interests with respect to a security arrangement, a treaty, not an armistice from 53 biden understanding of where we go, and economic future, i think there are ways to get through this, so i think the key here is to get back to the table and not do things that make it harder to get their rather than easier. so, that is just a quick summary take. i think your views have been helpful and important. it has been good to hear this and we have a distinguished visitor coming in about five minutes so we have got to get over to the capitol to meet him. i will leave the record open for a week for colleagues who would like to submit any questions, and we will certainly, if you want to articulate any further, in answer to what i just said or anything any senator said we and by that because we like to have as complete a record as possible. we may just follow up with you to that effect. thank you very much. i think it has been very helpful. we stand adjourned. >> how is c-span funded? >

south korea and also more in japan. and we have significance in those countrys and not to mention the rock forces and japanese forces. that as now is not a part of discussion. anything else on north korea? >> to what degree is the u.s. policy for north korea being held hostage to the fact that these two journalists are there and sentenced in hard labor? >> i don't get any sense that the policy is being held hostage by that unfortunate decision by the north koreans of the but -- koreans. but i haven't heard it enter into these calculations to proceed to the north. the state department his issued strong remarks of the government's disapproval of that handling, but not entered into our discussions. >> how do you see that of the north koreans asking for the waters to be cleared to the east coast. are you concerned? >> do you mean in terms of a potential missile launch? the secretary acknowledged in manila, that they are preparing for another missile launch. what kind or range is not clear at this point. so that, you know, that would yet be another sign that the north is going to undertake another provocative action, that would of course, not help diffuse or de-escalate an already intense s