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Washington, D.C. - The disturbing report this week that North Korea successfully completed an underground nuclear test was a grave reminder of the dangerous world in which we live. But this isn’t just a problem facing the United States; it potentially affects the entire international community.
The facts are clear. North Korea is an impoverished nation that generates income by drug trafficking, counterfeiting and selling weapons. In fact, it’s been documented that North Korea has sold ballistic missiles to Iran and Syria. Nuclear weapons in the hands of an erratic and authoritarian leader like Kim Jong Il, who also commands a million-man army, is certainly alarming. But the threat doesn’t stop there. North Korea’s past history of selling ballistic missiles to rogue nations creates an even graver threat. What if Kim Jong Il sells nuclear technology to these nations, or their terrorist allies?
To understand how we’ve arrived at this alarming juncture, we need to take a look back. In 1994, the Clinton administration signed the “Agreed Framework with North Korea,” a bilateral agreement where North Korea agreed to end its nuclear weapons program in exchange for the promise of light water reactors and nuclear fuel. Unfortunately, according to former Secretary of State Colin Powell, North Korea admittedly cheated on the agreement by starting a covert uranium enrichment program.
Since 2003, when North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Bush Administration has tried to address North Korea’s nuclear program through multilateral diplomacy. The six-party talks involving China, South Korea, North Korea, Russia, Japan and the United States have been fruitless. North Korea’s obstinate behavior made these negotiations extremely difficult, and in 2005 they dropped out of the negotiations altogether when the U.S. acted to stop North Korea from counterfeiting our currency.
Since that time, it has been made clear on many occasions that if North Korea would return to the six-party talks there would be a way to move forward. But as recently as July 5th of this year, North Korea made plain its intention to continue provoking the United States and the international community by launching seven rockets – including one ballistic missile – into the Sea of Japan. In response to its most recent nuclear activity, I believe now is the time to forcefully respond to North Korea’s threat.
That is why I support the President’s call on the Security Council to impose a military arms embargo, financial and trade sanctions, and the right to inspect all cargo in and out of North Korea. I’ve been told that a U.N. vote to impose these sanctions could come as early as next week.
While I am pleased that President Bush and Secretary Rice have stressed that they will continue to seek a diplomatic solution to the North Korea nuclear situation, it is important to remember that world is watching our reaction. North Korea is testing the international community, and it is critical that we send a strong message that this dangerous behavior will not be tolerated.
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