U.S. Daily Press Briefing

Philip J. Crowley
Assistant Secretary
Daily Press Briefing
Washington, DC
July 29, 2010

CHINA/NORTH KOREA/BURMA

US expects China to live up to its international obligations/US wants to see China use its leverage with North Korea to encourage North Korea to move in a fundamentally different direction US has concerns about the nature of the relationship between North Korea and Burma

QUESTION: Also, do you have any comment on North Korean Foreign Minister Pak’s visit to Yangon today?

MR. CROWLEY: We have – as we’ve stated many times, we have concerns about the nature of the relationship between North Korea and Burma. We don’t see the transparency in that relationship that we’d like to see. North Korea is a serial proliferators. North Korea is engaged in significant illicit activity. Burma, like other countries around the world, has obligations, and we expect Burma to live up to those obligations.

QUESTION: But do you see North Korea indulging in nuclear proliferation with Burma, or do you see Burma has that ambition?

MR. CROWLEY: Again, there – we – it’s difficult to evaluate because of the lack of transparency in that relationship. It is something that is of concern to us, given North Korea’s historical record. And it is something that we continue to watch very carefully.
QUESTION: During your talks with the Burmese officials, has that issue been brought up with them or the –

MR. CROWLEY: Yes.

QUESTION: -- Burmese officials? Okay.

QUESTION: On Ambassador Einhorn’s trip to Asia, is he going to announce the new sanctions against North Korea while he’s in Asia, or do you expect that announcement after he comes back from the region?

MR. CROWLEY: I don’t think he’ll make any announcements while he’s out there.


Philip J. Crowley
Assistant Secretary
Daily Press Briefing Washington, DC
July 28, 2010

INDIA/BURMA

U.S. Spoke to India on the Nature of their Relationship with Burma / Hearing from Leaders in the Region
QUESTION: How do you view the visit of the senior general – Burmese Senior General Than Shwe – he is considered one of the worst dictators of the world – to India, the largest democratic country of the world?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, we recognize that India and Burma, as neighbors, they have a relationship. We have spoken to India about the nature of this relationship. We hope that India will use its leverage, its investment, to convince Burma and its leaders to improve its record regarding human rights and democracy. We think it’s important for Burma to hear not only from the United States, but also from other regional leaders, India foremost among them.