28日のクリストファー・ヒル会見について

　昨日の外務相におけるヒルの記者会見全文は別途資料室に保存しておきましたが、その中で拉致問題の推移に関わりのありそうなやりとりだけを抜粋しておきます。

QUESTION: With the Six-Party process and the U.S.-DPRK process proceeding [inaudible], what kind of thing do you think is missing that is required for Japan and for North Korea to do?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: As you know, in the Six-Party process, we consider this a broad framework for dealing with a number of issues in the region, one of which is the U.S.-DPRK bilateral relationship, and second is the Japan-DPRK bilateral relationship.
中略
Now obviously, they will not move ahead simultaneously, and at times one or the other will move very slowly.
But I think we are committed to trying to make sure that both of these bilateral processes move ahead.

QUESTION: [inaudible] by the end of the year.
Does that mean you think it's likely that the U.S. will decide to at least state that it's going to take North Korea off the state sponsors of terrorism list?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Well, again, we have a number of obligations that are set for the end of the year.
We're pursuing a number of these things, and where we get to at the end of the year, we will have to see.
But I think things are moving ahead.
And most importantly, I think, is denuclearization, that is the disablement of this Yongbyon facility -- that until we were able to have it shut down this summer, until that happened, it was producing plutonium.
And so, I think we have made some progress.
And I would expect all elements to move ahead by the end of the year.
But I don't want to get into the specifics of it until we actually see where we are at the end of the year.