PSI a "high priority," North Korean nuclear program a concern, support for Brahimi

U.N. ANTIPROLIFERATION RESOLUTION WELCOMED

"The United Nations Security Council just recently voted on the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) resolution," White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan told reporters at the daily briefing April 28. "Today's unanimous United Nations Security Council vote is clear affirmation for the initiative the president launched to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction."

President Bush announced the establishment of the PSI March 31, 2003. The PSI is a response to the growing challenge posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, and related materials worldwide. It also seeks cooperation from any state whose vessels, flags, ports, territorial waters, air space or land might be used for proliferation purposes by states and non-state actors of proliferation concern.

"This is a high priority and it is important to winning the war on terrorism, and today's vote was an important step to move forward on these international efforts," McClellan said. "It will help make the world safer and better, and make America more secure as we move forward on this important initiative."

CONCERN VOICED OVER NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM

McClellan told reporters that the Bush administration was not aware of any new intelligence estimates on North Korea.

According to news reports, the United States is preparing to significantly raise its estimate of the number of nuclear weapons held by North Korea from "possibly two" to at least eight.

"We have serious concerns about North Korea's nuclear program and these concerns are longstanding," McClellan said, adding that "we are working through the six-party talks to address this priority.

The six-party talks among China, Japan, North and South Korea, Russia and the United States began in August 2003 to attempt to resolve the Korean peninsula nuclear crisis.

"In the mid-1990's, the U.S. intelligence community judged that North Korea had at least one [and] possibly two nuclear weapons," McClellan said.

The U.S. intelligence community is a federation of executive branch agencies and organizations that work separately and together to conduct intelligence activities necessary for the conduct of foreign relations and the protection of the national security of the United States.

North Korea expelled international monitors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in December 2002 and lifted its freeze on nuclear weapons production at its facility in Yongbyon.

North Korea announced its withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in January 2003.

"We are working along with other countries in the region to have North Korea verifiably end its nuclear weapons program," the spokesman said, "We expect a working group meeting of the six-party talks in May."

McClellan said the U.S. is using the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) to stop North Korean efforts relating to illegal drug and counterfeit exports.

The PSI establishes partnerships of states cooperating to interdict threatening shipments of WMD and missile-related equipment and technologies.

"North Korea has a real opportunity through these multilateral talks to follow the Libyan model and get on a better path, but their time is not limitless and we want to see progress in these talks," McClellan said.

Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi agreed to end his nuclear program and give up nuclear equipment in December 2003. U.S. officials praised Qadhafi's decision as a model for other regimes such as Iran and North Korea to follow.

"We are committed to a nuclear free Korean peninsula," McClellan said.

U.S. SUPPORT FOR BRAHIMI EFFORTS CONTINUES

"We are supportive of U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi's efforts that will help us move forward on the transfer of sovereignty [in Iraq] by June 30," McClellan said.

The spokesman said Brahimi will return to Iraq in May to work with both the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) and Iraqi leaders to put together the interim Iraqi government.

Asked about current military operations in Fallujah, McClellan said "thugs and terrorists" there continue to try to attack U.S. Marines, who continue to defend themselves.

"The military commanders in the field are continuing to pursue a peaceful solution to the situation in Fallujah," McClellan said. "Our military commanders are in the best position to know how to improve the security situation in Fallujah and the surrounding cities."

Asked about President Bush's response to the situation in Fallujah, the spokesman said "the president has been involved with these decisions and has been meeting with the National Security Council and keeps close contact on the military situation with the commanders in the field."

BUSH DISCUSSES ISSUES WITH SWEDEN'S PRIME MINISTER

President Bush met with Sweden's Prime Minister Goran Persson at the White House April 28.

"Sweden is a valued partner" on common challenges such as "counterterrorism and Afghanistan, where Sweden is playing a significant role in the reconstruction effort, and Kosovo and Liberia," the White House spokesman said.

"The two leaders discussed a range of issues, including the importance of Europe and the U.S. working together to address our common challenges," McClellan said. "They discussed efforts to spread democracy and reform throughout the Middle East."

"The president thanks the prime minister for working with us to combat HIV/AIDS, the trafficking of human persons, and the spread of weapons of mass destruction," McClellan said.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)