UNCLASSIFIED U S Departtnent of State Case No F-2014-13187 Doc No C06128357 Date 01 18 2018 NOT FOR THE SYSTEM THE SECRETARY OF STATE $40115 RELEASE IN WASHINGTON e PART DIST 3 27 99 August 27 1999Classified by DAS Dos on 04 11 2017 Class SECRET 1g 08 2 5 09 Reason B1 Declassify on 03 25 2024 sauna gl so MEMORANDUM TO THE PRESIDENT FROM Madeleine K Albright lure SUBJECT Night Note North Korea and Congress APPEALS PANEL ACTION ADDITIONAL INFORMAUON RELEASED I Our efforts to break through on North Korea policy will be at a critical juncture in September I ask your help in ensuring this expected progress by preparing the way with Congress - spoke with John Podesta and Jim Steinberg today and outlined the following 1 Early in September our diplomats may well reach agreement with the North Koreans to engage on more positive relations We believe these meetings may result in this seguence _7 B1 - 1 4 Us Your suspension of executive authority sanctions while reversible if the North Koreans undermine 1 cooperation is a major change in policy The way must be prepared with Congress The Perry Report which presents our approach is nearly complete We hope to have the final version to you in a matter of days With a transmittal letter from I you we want to deliver this to Congress the week of September 13 1 Classified by Secretary of State Madeleine K Albright Reason 1 5 and UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No F-2014-13187 Doc No 006128357 Date 01 18 2018 UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No F-20 l4-l3 187 Doc No 006126357 Date 2 Congress is impatient Congress has always been skeptical of the Agreed Framework the current appropriations process is tough in part reflecting that skepticism To add to this saying the Perry process has not prOduced results eight Republican House committee and subcommittee chairs have formed a North Korea policy advisory group They have already written to George Tenet asking for extensive intelligence holdings Although Perry and his team have painstakingly briefed Congressional leadership and key members over the last year many in Congress are suspicious about our intentions In an ideal world 'we would ask you to invite key Members to the White House early in September to join you in a briefing and discussion of the policy review and suspension of sanctions Current schedule pressure precludes this Therefore I ask that you call the Congressional leadership even before the end of recess to brief on our negotiations inform them of our intent to suspend sanctions if those negotiations succeed and quell doubts about the Perry Report telling them it will be on the Hill in classified form at a date certain I along with other principals would make similar calls to other Members We would call on Congress to maintain this confidence during the diplomatic talks with the North Koreans underway from September 7 which could bring about agreement to move ahead on engagement Your making these calls before your departure for APEC prepares you for your trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Obuchi and President Kim in Auckland September 12 Later in September l believe it is essential you meet at the White House with key Members to consult on the results of the Perry process and our negotiations just prior to your suspension of sanctions similar to our Yellow Oval meetings US Department ofState Case Doc No 50612635 Date 01 18 2018 UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No 006126357 Date 01 18 2018 1 sm 3_ - Mr President one can never know what to expect with the North Koreans To that end we continue to prepare for the downSide if that is needed Nonetheless we are more hopeful than we have been in a long time about our prospects We must put all of the pieces in place so that i our Congress and our allies provide us the space and support to pursue the upside 1 SECRET 1 UNCLASSIFIED us Department of State Case No F 2014 13187 Doc No 00612635 Date 01 18 2018 This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu