President Bush Discusses North Korea

June 27 - President George W. Bush discussed North Korea on June 26 in the Rose Garden of the White House. President Bush stated, "The policy of the United States is a Korean Peninsula free of all nuclear weapons. This morning, we moved a step closer to that goal, when North Korean officials submitted a declaration of their nuclear programs to the Chinese government as part of the six-party talks." [Full statement]

The White House also released the following documents:

• Proclamation by the President: Termination of the Exercise of Authorities Under the Trading with the Enemy Act with Enemy Act with Respect to North Korea
• Executive Order: Continuing Certain Restrictions with Respect to North Korea and North Korean Nationals
• Memorandum for the Secretary of State
• Statement by the White House Press Secretary
• Message to the Congress of the United States

On the same day, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated in an Op-Ed in The Wall Street Journal, "We believe that the six-party framework is the best way to learn more about the threat posed by this closed and opaque regime, and ultimately, together with partners, to eliminate North Korea's nuclear weapons and programs." [State Department Fact Sheet]