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The Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment, Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, today condemned North Korea for its latest provocations against South Korea, provocations which pose a grave threat pose to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.
“Last week, North Korea launched an unprovoked artillery attack on the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, leaving four dead, including the first civilians killed by North Korean weapons since the 1953 armistice that halted the Korean War. This brutal and unprovoked act comes just two weeks after North Korea disclosed new facilities to produce highly enriched uranium for nuclear weapons in violation of a number of U.N Security resolutions. These developments are deeply troubling, I condemn them in the strongest terms and I call on all parties concerned to forge a coordinated international response. That is why I have also joined House Foreign Affairs Chairman Howard Berman and Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen as an original co-sponsor of H. Res. 1735, which condemns North Korea in the strongest terms for the military attack,” Faleomavaega said.
“North Korea’s shelling of Yeonpyeong and its enhanced HEU production capabilities come in the aftermath of a series of other recent, deeply troubling actions by Pyongyang beginning in May of last year, when North Korea conducted its second nuclear test. Pyongyang followed that test with failed attempts to sell weapons to Hamas and Hezbollah and to assassinate Hwang Jang-yop, the highest-ranking North Korea official ever to defect to the South. Then, in March of this year, North Korea attacked and sank the South Korea naval vessel, the Cheonan, killing 46 sailors.” Faleomavaega added.
“While it is impossible to know with any precision what is motivating North Korea, the country’s recent belligerent actions correspond to preparations in the North for a leadership transition as Pyongyang’s ailing leader, Kim Jong-il, appears to have designated his youngest son, Kim Jong-eun, as his successor. Given Kim Jon-eun’s youth and inexperience, North Korea’s provocations may be meant as a signal that the country will not allow the succession to weaken the current brutal regime’s hold on power. Regardless of motivation, however, North Korea has ratcheted up tensions and seems intent on taking us to the brink of war. Fortunately, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has shown remarkable restraint in responding to Pyongyang. Yet no sovereign nation can be expected to repeatedly absorb lethal attacks without responding forcefully. That is why in an address to the nation yesterday, President Lee said that North Korea would ‘pay a dear price’ if it attacked South Korea again.” Faleomavaega noted.
“The United States must stand in solidarity with the South Korean people and President Lee as they formulate a response to North Korea. But I believe that response must be calibrated and coordinated with the all the key actors in the region so that North Korea is dissuaded from further attacks on the South and tensions are lowered. Another war on the Korean peninsula should be, and must remain, unthinkable.”
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![[United States Congress]](/congress111th/20101210162415im_/http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/as00_faleomavaega/congress.gif)
