HONORABLE ENI F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. Chairman:

May I first offer my congratulations and commend you for your continued service and outstanding leadership as Chairman of our Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.  As this is our first subcommittee hearing of the 108th Congress, I also want to welcome both our Republican and Democratic members.

       At this time in our nation’s history and during these days of heightened security, it is my sincere hope that as we consider whatever bills and resolutions that come before us that we will do so in a spirit of cooperation and bipartisanship.  I also hope that the substance of our deliberations and discussions will always be one of mutual understanding and that our efforts will always be centered on what is in the best interest of our nation.

       Of course there will be disagreements as we deliberate, as this is part of the democratic process.  I expect that at times each of us may be very vocal about what we believe.  But, at the end of every debate, we can also still be friends.   

       Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you for calling this hearing on a matter that is seriously affecting our national security interests.  How easily we forget that it was only some 50 years ago that the military forces of communist North Korea crossed the borders of South Korea, took over and captured South Korea’s capital, the city of Seoul.  This communist takeover was deliberate.  The North Korean army went as far south as Pusar.  

       From the southern region of South Korea, a United Nations sponsored military force under the leadership of General Douglas McArthur managed to push the North Korean army back to its border.  But this was done only through a tremendous loss and sacrifice of human life.  

       Correct me if I’m wrong, Mr. Chairman, but I believe that more than 37,000 American soldiers lost their lives to free the people of South Korea from a communist takeover.  Thousands more were wounded and maimed for life.

       Today, we now have some 37,000 troops stationed in Korea to support and to provide some sense of stability in the Korean peninsula.  But it seems that lately the recently elected leadership of South Korea does not favor the idea of our presence in South Korea.  For that matter, given the recent demonstrations on the streets of South Korea, even the people of South Korea, do not support our presence.

       Perhaps it is time to re-assess our policies in the Korean peninsula.  From a layman’s point of view, it already appears that our 37,000 U.S. soldiers stationed in South Korea are like sitting ducks, like sacrificial lambs prepared for the slaughter.  My reason for saying this is that North Korea literally has hundreds of thousands of soldiers ready at any time to cross the 38th parallel.  Common sense dictates that our soldiers do not have a chance for survival if the Korean War starts again -- which leads me to my next point, Mr. Chairman.  

       If South Korea does not want us there – fine – let’s bring our soldiers home.  North Korea’s recent announcements that it is developing the capability to produce an atomic weapon and, according to some media reports, that it already has 2 or 3 atomic devices, has now changed the entire spectrum of our foreign policy in the Asian region.  

       Even more critical, Mr. Chairman, just yesterday the media reported that North Korea has the capability, maybe not perfected yet, but the capability of shooting an ICBM type missile that can land anywhere in the United States.  You add a nuclear warhead to the missile and North Korea will then become a distinguished member of the nuclear club.

       I am sure that our subcommittee members have many questions regarding these matters to raise with our friend, Jim Kelly, U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.  Secretary Kelly, I welcome you to our hearing and I look forward to also discussing this most serious matter with you.