North Korean Lifeline

Published: Wed, 5 Aug 2009

Description: Gov. Richardson on significance of Bill Clinton's rescue mission to Pyongyang

Automatically Generated Transcript (may not be 100% accurate)

" What does president Clinton's presence in North Korea mean for future relations with a country right now on trying to somebody with experience negotiate with and the north Koreans is the governor of New Mexico. Bill Richardson good morning governor. Good morning I don't morning."

" I know at one point you offered yeah hug all murder I'll I'll do my best also Al Gore did the same that they said no. We want Bill Clinton why Bill Clinton. Well."

" For years and north Koreans have try to get Bill Clinton to come as president. It's a major coup for the north Koreans to get somebody of Clinton's stature they didn't get him as president but they get him as the next president. What Kim Jong Il the leader North Korea wanted to do to shore up his domestic political base. There's a succession issues there there's turmoil. Kim Jong Il wants to leave powered of one of his kids there seems to be. Quite a bit. Quite a bit turmoil that has probably cause -- north Koreans adopt some of the most hostile postures. Towards us in the last few years underground. Missile test. Nuclear detonations denunciations. All kinds of very hostile acts so. This does provide an opening possibly. For us in the north Koreans to at least start talking again but that's about it yet."

" You know it's it's -- governor that this is good for Kim -- ill and they repressive regime in North Korea. But tell us apart from the wonderful release of these two young journalists American journalist how it's good for America and is it. Well it is good for America first of all. This was the only way we're gonna get these two wonderful. Journalist with a great family it shows that America steps up. For our potential hostages and prisoners it's better as we do for our military. Second."

" Certainly what we get out of it. It is a lessening of tensions look this is a country -- nuclear weapons was almost a million. Men and women in uniform. We have American troops in South Korea close to 30000. They've got land mines there they've got sophisticated missiles we want to lessen tensions it makes sense for the international community. Just talk the north Koreans either through the six party nations. Like South Korea Japan Russia and China. I'm not spore was talking to him bilaterally. So that they don't do an unpredictable. It's coming it'll play all that that's stepping up for hostages. Increase the risk but more hostages being taken in the future is a good. Well this was an unfortunate situation. That two women were detained in North Korea. They had crossed the border apparently they also admitted they did it. Illegally. But the regard they were doing. Their journalistic work but they did admit that they came over legally so they gave this whole incident gave -- not Koreans. An opportunity to use it as a bargaining chip -- that's what's happened before. The very north Koreans are very good at getting bargaining chips like this to attract high level onboard but we get them back. Tensions are -- possibly talks resumed and so everybody wins and it's."

" All away sort of I mean I'm really understood the whole international story governor but I'm really interested in the domestic story here because you gotta know that President Obama does not wanna give center stage to former President Bill Clinton. Unless. There's a huge problem going on on Capitol Hill like the demise possibly of health care reform. Do you see that is the case here that he was more than welcome President Obama that is. To handle and hand off the torch to President Clinton to take center stage on this. Well."

" Look secretary of state Clinton was very involved in this so it is an administration's strategy even though. Clinton is going as a private citizen -- private humanitarian. But the problem is. President Obama had no choice we can't possibly send. An American diplomat or an American represented that there's -- north Koreans don't want to talk I don't know what I. It wasn't a good distraction for president Obama's health care. What yes it shows diplomacy. Mean. Effective getting hostages out possibly starting. They had dialogue we'll see what happens when President Clinton. Comes back. So yeah it's a plus for everybody I think. Obama looks good Clinton looks good yeah North Korea the leader you know he can get some chips out of this -- his own people that he can deliver. A former president at a time when there is internal turmoil in this country."

" Why I hope the current president calls a former president says thanks because Gibbs said yesterday that they had not spoken since March. But before you go. You -- apparently the president former President Clinton did say you know we're sorry if Hillary Clinton is that we're sorry to North Korea's. I thought we didn't negotiate with terrorists. Well no I I don't believe. This is what the north Koreans said but the White House has denied that happening now. The girls -- And then just women it's men and mrs. Clinton had in the past apologized to the north Koreans publicly for the women you know. Wonder and North Korea so wouldn't be a stretch to think that Bill Clinton might show up and say that we're sorry that that happen."

" Well now what's the word for secretary of state Clinton says she wanted to amnesty. She was asking for amnesty that implies recognition. That there was a violation of North Korean loss. But look the north Koreans always say well you know there was an apology they've done it wouldn't -- before. The fact is that President Clinton wasn't there to negotiate he was just there to secure the release. Of the two Americans but then the north Koreans still look let's be realistic when you sit out of them. They talk to you for hours -- their grievances. On nuclear issues so it's possible that you there was a dialogue but I. There was no apology offered by President Clinton I don't believe that aren't governor we thank you so much for joining us today aren't thank you you bet."

More Videos From FOX News

Here We Go Again

Another U.S. holiday, another North Korea missile test

Video|Mon, 12 Oct 2009|More from Latest Video
|north koreafound at0:00, 0:47, 1:21, 2:40, 3:30

need a missile. Right and deliver -- have that they have that North Korea's test it and around a sense of it he enriched uranium -- we know North Korea's got that. We know that Iran is getting near that enough. And you need a blueprint to pull it all together now that's where they're both lacking. Iran -- not sure how far there along and the blueprint except last week. The United Nations had their much -- airline in the North Korea weren't sure that they actually have the technology. Mastered to put a nuclear weapon on the -- permissible we know -- turning.

Our North Korea once again thumbing its nose at the world with a fresh new batch of provocative missile tests . Earlier today the secretive regime launched five short range missiles off their eastern post. It's been a busy year for the north

It's the same story you know it's whether it's North Korea or Iran's nuclear program it's the same thing every couple weeks -- something -- it's time. You know drip drip drip --

Is it North Korea and campaign -- personally -- have a combination sort of bluster and brinksmanship with their foreign policy we don't have a lot of ability to influence North Korea right now without China's not without China. And the key if all this has turned so for China has been unwilling to clamp down on our pre. -- owns North Korea with the politics behind all that. It's a bunch of reasons one North Korea was as a longtime ally China kind of a client -- gives him. Somewhere between 758090%. Of your food your fuel well they're electricity everything comes from China. So China's been hesitant to try that -- down an ally on the other hand China also doesn't want to destabilize North Korea . Because it it knows it goes back to the Korean war where Korean refugees coming out of the north steam in the

And shot and North Korea is really that their only real crop if you will -- weapons. Then they had to get food -- somewhere somewhere else and that's China so China kind of puppeteers North Korea .

past. We know other countries in the Middle -- have. This is North Korea the whole world's watching. They're giving you a demonstration of what they can do it in really all we can do is talk about it. Now I think -- what we need to do is is a couple of things we could go to China we've been reluctant to I. We have so much bargaining power with the Chinese these days we're good to go live -- we have no bargaining power we're you have been under fire -- and have a lot of ability there. With North Korea . China's sticking with Iran Russia's thinking -- what did we do a couple weeks ago. Give up our biggest bargaining chip which

thing in the land China's biggest nightmare. Is if Japan and South Korea decide they've got to -- nuclear they've got to have an -- race to defend itself against. North Korea so I think that's -- and a -- with Russia. You just say you know whats it gonna take us to help

Ready for Launch?

K.T. McFarland on U.S. options to North Korean missile test

Video|Thu, 2 Apr 2009|More from World
|North Koreafound at0:01, 1:30, 2:55

As to where we believe North Korea's today they're satellite imagery. That we can show you of the Taepodong missile. We've seen the images before in the US military saying that the missile is on the launch pad that fuel trucks are on the way and in fact is being fueled at the moment. Now here is the kind of missile we're talking about. It's a Taepodong. Two. A long range ballistic missile that could reach Alaska potentially it's the second time the North Korea's attempted to. To launch this type of missile the other attempt back in 1998. Was a failure we can show you more images now on the launch pad. And now South Korea's clamoring for the US and Japan to shoot it down if it indeed is launch now here's what -- look like. The US anti missile craft could intercept the missile over the Pacific Ocean but will it come to that President Obama at the moment saying. That he will go directly the UN Security Council if North Korea amid -- launches dismissal. It's the same thing the South Koreans said earlier today in London as well KT McFarland is a

consequences. Well really guarding your lender to sanction there's US sanctions against North Korea do this the same -- three UN sanctions. Against Iran developing nuclear weapons it you can keep saying this without people saying oh yeah our right -- to -- than what is the other option. There have a -- options that you could do I think that North Korea . If its call is from China. And what I learned when I worked for Henry Kissinger is so often you have to go to indirect way to get something done. China's determines what North Korea does China gets its fuel. Food gasoline if China wanted North Korea does not have this missile test China can make it and stop that was a phone call it is not that I -- what has Beijing's said Pyongyang.

consider here is -- the previous sales of missile technology of the North Korea's export to countries like Iran. And Libya and they have made hundreds of millions of dollars off of themselves if you're able

Second Thoughts?

Should the U.S. rethink its position on North Korea? Amb. John Bolton weighs in

Video|Thu, 9 Oct 2008|More from World
|North Koreafound at0:01, 0:32, 2:28, 3:08

Now we want to get to what is happening in North Korea is put its main nuclear facilities off limits international inspectors. A Japanese news agency is citing South Korean and US intelligence saying that the north is getting ready for war missile test right now. Will this make the US reconsider removing North Korea from its terror blacklist joining me now -- ambassador John Bolton former ambassador to the United Nations. Or thanks for being here it can you explain to lessen the -- certainly seem to

Well I think North Korea wants two things one in in the near term that want to get off the US list of state sponsors of terrorism

to continue to expand their nuclear program. Thus putting more pressure on South Korea China Japan south bank from their point of view even with the health of Kim -- very on. Certain this is this is that makes sense from their perspective what you talk about the pressure on Secretary Rice what do you suggest she should be doing. Well I think it. This is clear proof that North Korea is not negotiating seriously to give up its nuclear weapons capability I don't think they're ever going to give it up voluntarily I think what Secretary Rice should do would be to say. You know we've tried negotiation for over five years. We've seen no evidence of the strategic decision by North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. And therefore we're going to return to what is really the only long term solution here putting pressure on North Korea . Two the through through greater pressure from China. Tied to reverse course or face the the downfall of the region.

is what it is coming from waiters say that it says that North Korea has reportedly deployed these ten missiles on the west coast for what appears to be. Imminent launch what types of missiles are

Search News Archive