Interview with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

A: It's not a serious threat to United States. At this time its weapon's capacity and technological progress is not a threat to us but it is a threat to our other allies and if it continues it's a threat to further destabilisation in East Asia, and particularly Northeast Asia. We'll be talking about many important issues here at the ASEAN meeting. I'm very proud that I'll be signing, on behalf of my country, the treaty of Amity and Collaboration.

Of course the world of ASEAN is just beginning to explore other areas that there are first ever joint exercises in the Philippines to try to do better on disaster assistance. So we have followed agenda but the behavior and provocative reaction of North Korea raised issues because for example if North Korea pursues this nuclear program other countries are going to feel out of their own self-defense necessity they must also. That chain reaction is one of the reasons why in another part of the world we are concerned about Iran. If Iran requires another nuclear weapon then other countries in the Middle East are going to think that they have to have one, too. And pretty soon you have so many nuclear weapons, and not just in the hands of states, but also non-state act... and North Korea has been in proliferation of nuclear technology, we know that.

So we want to continue to put pressure. I must say that I'm very gratified that we have a united front and Asia are coming together in the United Nations passing an ASEAN security council resolution with real teeth to try to go after all the different institutions and individuals that are part of the proliferation network within North Korea and that support it outside.

So I think we are making progress in creating a strong responsibility in North Korea.

Q: Who actually gives more headache, Kim Jong-il, ......, General Than Swe, Osama Bin Laden...

A: They give me headaches all the time. You mentioned obviously some of the people who, I think, are playing a very negative role in the world and I have to worry about all of them, unfortunately.

Q: You said on ABC on Monday that North Korea is like an unruly child, seeking attention all the time. What do you mean?

A: Well, I think if you look at the behavior of North Korea in the last months and going back some years, it is hard to understand what their real objectives are, other than to try to get everybody to pay attention to.

And it's sad because when you look at the Korean peninsula, the progress success in South Korea the opportunities South Korea have demonstrated to economic process and academic achievement. And then just across the border a country that just can't feed itself, people are literally shrinking inside because they are malnourished. And they want the world's stage to watch the missile, accurately they want a satellite. To me it's sad because absolutely Korean people have so much potential but they badly governed in the North and it would be a wonderful change in attitude if the leadership in North Korea is less complete in a peaceful way. Let's see our students and ... students ....our business people and our business people... kind of competition we are seeing in Asia peaceful ... you know very aggressive and vigorous from time to time. That's how countries should be looking in the future and we are a long way since North Korea to do that.

Q: Talking about Burma, if Aung Sang Suu Kyi is not released would you be sorry to see Burma kicked out of ASEAN?

A: Well that's up to ASEAN.

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