North Korea (July 2008)

President Bush recently announced his intention to remove North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terror and to marginally reduce sanctions against that nation after North Korea disclosed important information about its plutonium-generated nuclear program. While North Korea's action was a step in the right direction, I'm very concerned by its failure to disclose information about its existing stockpile of nuclear weapons, its uranium-based nuclear program, and its past activities in sharing nuclear technology with hostile nations such as Syria. North Korea has a history of lying about the nature of its nuclear programs and violating agreements pertaining to them. As a result, I believe the United States must respond cautiously to North Korea's promises and purported revelations, and continue to work with our allies to demand complete and accurate answers to remaining questions about its nuclear activities. Only upon verifying that North Korea is completely nuclear-free can the United States and international community consider North Korea a non-threatening nation.