On March 16th, 2026, the ISCAP released two documents from the Department of Defense. These documents present the behind-the-scenes work done by the US government to ensure peaceful state visits with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Document 1 outlines the requirements given to North Korea for the US to consider taking them off the list. The document also contains a draft for a joint US- North Korea statement agreeing that international terrorism poses an international threat and stating their intent to cooperate in the fight against international terrorism. The ISCAP decided to declassify some portions and affirm the classification of other portions of this originally Secret document. Document 2 outlines the proposal for a high-level visit by a DPRK official, and in return the North Koreans wanted to be removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism to make them eligible for food assistance. The ISCAP decided to fully declassify this originally Secret document, with some information identified for continued holding under CIA Statute and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
In October of 2000, Kim Jong Il’s second in command, Vice Marshal Jo Myong Rok, visited President Bill Clinton in Washington DC. During the visit, he delivered a letter from Kim Jong Il, inviting President Clinton to Pyongyang, and met with the senior officials of the Clinton administration including Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Secretary of Defense William Cohen. The result of the meeting was a joint statement reaffirming the 1995 Agreed Framework, where both sides agreed to build a functional, trusting relationship where they could discuss areas of mutual interest in an effective manner. They also agreed that a resolution to the missile issue would be a critical contribution to improving the relationship between countries and in creating peace and security in the Asian-Pacific region. The statement also reiterated a joint statement put out days before the visit, that both sides agree to support and encourage the international fight against terrorism.