Ex-US Secretary of State Albright recounts
talk with late NK leader
Kim Se-jeong , May 15, 2012 Tuesday, Korea Times
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DO- Harold Koh provide similar accounts about Kim Jong-il in a speech
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The late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il,
who died last December, acknowledged the importance of U.S. troops on the
Korean Peninsula, said former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
She has shared her experience of meeting
the deceased leader on several occasions, most recently at a talk organized by
the Chicago Council on Global Affairs early this month, according to diplomatic
sources.
Secretary Albright and Kim discussed
military affairs and ways of improving relations between the two states during
a visit to Pyongyang in October 2000.
"Our intelligence was not exactly
correct. They said he was crazy and a pervert. He was not crazy,' she said,
recalling their talks. 'I think he was very smart."
'(We) discussed the full range of concerns
on missiles,' said Albright. 'He was really quite open, in discussions that we
had, in terms of limiting his missile program, and it was very evident what he
wanted to do was to be involved in a negotiation,' she told Frontline, PBS.
North Korean rocket launches have been
regarded as tests for long-range missiles. Most recently, Pyongyang attempted
and failed to launch an Unha-3 rocket from a West Sea satellite launch site in
April.
Regarding U.S. troops stationed here,
Albright said, 'Kim accepted the fact that the United States will continue to
station its troops in Korea.'
Kim had been adamant about a need for the
United States Forces in Korea's (USFK) 'full withdrawal' up until Albright's.
Albright had worn heels and a brooch shaped
like the American flag for their meeting. Recounting Kim's appearance, Albright
added, 'His heels were the same height as mine and his hair was a lot poofier
than mine.'
Albright was the highest ranking American
official ever to meet with Kim Jong-il.
'North Korea is one of the most dangerous
flashpoints,' said Albright. 'The country seems very unstable at the moment,
and there is concern it will perform nuclear tests.'
'It would be best if China takes the role
of negotiator during the six-party talks,' she added.
The six-party talks are a series of
discussions between South Korea, Russia, United States, Japan, North Korea and
China to seek a peaceful resolution on the North Korean nuclear weapons
program. They started on Aug. 27, 2003
