AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES CLINTON NORTH KOREA VISIT WITH FM HOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L PHNOM PENH 000578 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/D, P E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL CB SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES CLINTON NORTH KOREA VISIT WITH FM HOR NAMHONG REF: STATE 82592 Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES THEODORE ALLEGRA FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: During an August 10 meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong, the Ambassador conveyed reftel demarche on former President Clinton's visit to North Korea. Ambassador relayed that Clinton's visit was strictly a private mission and that U.S. policy towards North Korea had not changed. Hor Namhong expressed his optimism that the mission's success would facilitate a renewal of the six-party talks. END SUMMARY. Clinton Visit to DPRK; Strictly a Private Mission -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Ambassador took the opportunity to deliver the key points regarding former President Bill Clinton's recent trip to North Korea during a scheduled meeting with DPM and FM to discuss other topics (septel). She emphasized that the effort to secure the release of two American journalists was strictly a private humanitarian mission executed on behalf of the journalists' families. She reiterated that U.S. policy towards North Korea, specifically denuclearization, had not changed. ¶3. (C) Hor Namhong thanked Ambassador for her message and noted that he appreciated the success of the mission. He emphasized that it was a "good signal for U.S relations with North Korea" and it was a step that would possibly be followed by renewal of the six-party talks. He further stressed that he would follow carefully the next steps and acknowledged that while the mission was in itself "a good sign," the North Korea government remained very unpredictable. ¶4. (C) COMMENT: Hor Namhong was genuinely pleased that President Clinton's mission to North Korea was a success. He expressed his understanding that the mission's objectives were limited to the release of the two journalists, but nonetheless he was hopeful that it would facilitate the renewal of the six-party talks. ALLEGRA