[Page: S7220]
Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and other friends of the United States in East Asia are not pursuing nuclear weapons programs. This is not an accident. It represents almost 50 years of successful diplomacy by Democrat and Republican administrations.
That success is at risk in the current North Korea nuclear weapons crisis. If the North Koreans can stare down the Clinton administration, it will be very difficult to persuade the rest of East Asia not to look after its own security interests.
Mr. President, it is not in anyone's interest for there to be a nuclear arms race either on the Korean peninsula or in the rest of East Asia. Therefore, recent events in Beijing can only be described as puzzling.
From June 6 to June 13 the North Korean Chief of Staff met with almost the entire top military leadership in China: The Chairman and both Vice Chairmen of the Central Military Commission, the Defense Minister, the Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Chinese Army, the political commissars of the Air Force and Navy, the commandant and deputy commandant of China's leading armor school, the Deputy Commander of Beijing Military Region, and other military officials. Finally, the North Koreans toured the sixth artillery division, one of the units around Beijing. By my count this includes all the Chinese military services and all the combat branches of the services. A number of the Chinese individuals in the meetings with their North Korean counterparts were veterans of the Korean war.
We only know snippets of what they discussed but it is very hard to avoid the conclusion that this was a war council. The Chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission was quoted in the official Chinese press as declaring that China and North Korea are as close as `lips and teeth.' The Chinese Defense Minister referred to the United States as `imperialist aggressors' for our actions in defense of South Korea in 1950. If South Korea's largest newspaper is accurate, the Chinese pledged 85,000 troops to the aid of North Korea in the event of war.
Mr. President, today I have written to the Chinese Ambassador bringing to his attention my concern over these meetings and statements. It is time for the Chinese Government to make a positive contribution to resolving the North Korean nuclear issue. Their actions of 2 weeks ago were a big step backwards.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that my letter to the Chinese Ambassador and certain publications on this subject from Chinese, North Korean and South Korean newspapers and radio outlets be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC, June 21, 1994.
His Excellency Li Daoyu,
The Ambassador of China,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Ambassador: Since the end of World War II the United States has exercised its leadership to ensure that those countries in East Asia which are allied with us have not developed nuclear weapons. This accomplishment has not occurred by accident but rather after considerable effort and some diplomatic cost.
We have now come to a critical juncture with North Korea. It is not in anyone's interest for North Korea to maintain its nuclear weapons program. As North Korea's long time ally, China is obliged to take the lead in convincing the North Korean leadership of the absolute necessity that its nuclear weapons ambitions must be abandoned.
Therefore, the discussion in Beijing from June 6 to June 13 between the highest military leadership in China and their North Korean counterparts raise serious questions of China's intentions. President Jiang Zemin's declaration of solidarity with North Korea, using a phrase associated with wartime allegiance, only raises additional questions. Finally, we wonder what to make of the report of China's pledge of 85,000 troops to the aid of North Korea in time of war. At a time when China should be pressing North Korea to adopt a peaceful stance, these statements and meetings seem to suggest other objectives.
Considering North Korea's history of aggression and state terrorism, the United States will not allow it to develop nuclear weapons without challenge. If those who have influence and leverage with the North Korean leadership choose to avoid their responsibilities, the United States will need to reevaluate its strategy for maintaining peace in the region.
Sincerely,
Larry Pressler,
U.S. Senator.
Military Delegation Returns From PRC
Pyongyang, June 14 (KCNA): The DPRK military delegation headed by Choe Kwang, Politburo member of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, vice-chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and chief of the general staff of the Korean People's Army, returned home Monday after visiting China.
That day Liu Huaqing, member of the standing committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, met the Korean military delegation.
Liu Huaqing said that China and the DPRK are the closest neighbours whose mountains adjoin each other and which have common rivers and the friendly relations between the two countries with a historical tradition have reached a higher phase and been consolidated today.
`The people of China treasure Sino-Korean friendship,' Liu said, `and will pass it on from generation to generation.'
Jiang Zemin Receives DPRK Military Delegation
PRC President Jiang Zemin said in Beijing on 7 June that strengthening and developing PRC-DPRK friendship is the unwavering policy of the CPC and the PRC Government, as well as the desire of the whole party and all the people.
During a meeting with a DPRK military delegation led by Vice Marshal Choe Kwang, chief of general staff of the Korea People's Army, President Jiang Zemin said that the PRC and the DPRK are friendly neighbors and the two parties, two countries, and two Armies have a tradition of a friendly relationship, and that it is of great significance in the past, and at present as well, to further develop such relations.
He said that the Chinese party and Government are satisfied with the development of the relations between the two parties and two nations and will continue to make efforts to develop the relations.
Chief of General Staff Choe Kwang expressed his gratitude to President Jian Zemin for meeting the delegation and said that it is an invariable stance of the Workers' Party of Korea to develop the DPRK-PRC friendship for generations.
PRC Military Head Meets DPRK Military Delegation
Colonel General Liu Huaqing, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, emphasized in Beijing on the morning of 13 June that the ultimate goal for resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula is realizing the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and peace and security on it. He said that China's position is that the nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully through dialogue among the parties concerned.
Colonel General Liu Huaqing said this at the meeting with a DPRK military delegation led by Vice Marshal Choe Kwang, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, at the Diaoyutai, the State Guest House.
Stating that close friendly relations have been cemented between the two countries and peoples of China and the DPRK, Colonel General Liu Huaqing said that friendly relations between China and the DPRK are very precious ones that should be inherited for all generations to come.
Vice Marshal Choe Kwang said that promoting friendly relations between the DPRK and China corresponds with the desire of the two countries' peoples and that the DPRK highly evaluates China's efforts to develop bilateral friendly relations. He said that he believes that the bilateral friendly relations would further develop and be consolidated.
During the meeting, the military leaders of the two countries share the view on activating the military exchange between the two countries.
The Korean military delegation arrived in China on 6 June and, during its stay, visited Beijing, Hangzhou, and Shanghai.
DPRK Military Delegates' PRC Visit Reported
The DPRK military delegation led by Comrade Choe Kwang, member of the Political Bureau of the Workers Party of Korea Central Committee, vice chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission, and chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army [KPA], which is visiting China, inspected the Armored Force Engineering Academy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army [PLA] on 6 June. Commandant of the academy major General Cai Kangsheng, Vice Commandant Major General (Sun Jiangrong), and other functionaries concerned, welcomed the delegation.
The head of the delegation inspected the honor guard with Cao Gangchuan, deputy chief of General Staff, and the commandant of the academy. The delegation looked over the tanks and armored cars receiving training at the academy, and an exhibition hall that exhibited technological achievements.
On 7 June, the delegation inspected the sixth artillery division of the Beijing military region.
On 6 June, Zhang Wannian, chief of the General Staff of the PLA, arranged a banquet for the delegation. Members of the DPRK military delegation led by Choe Kwang, the chief of the General Staff; the DPRK ambassador to China; and the embassy military attache were invited. Cao Gangchuan, deputy chief of the General Staff of the PLA; the political commissar of the Navy Department; the political commissar of the Air Force Department; the deputy commander of the Beijing military region; and other functionaries concerned were on hand.
Speeches were exchanged at the banquet. In his speech, Zhang Wannian, chief of the General Staff, said that the Armies of the two countries of China and the DPRK have a long tradition of friendly relations. He emphasized that the friendship concluded between the people and Armies of the two countries through blood ties is invincible. He stated that the heroic and diligent Korean people and the People's Army achieved great results in socialist construction and national defense building under the leadership of the Comrade President Kim Il-song, the great leader of the Korean people and close friend of the Chinese people, and the respected Comrade Kim Chong-il. He also said that the Chinese people and Army are happy about those results as though they were their own.
He said that he hopes that the Korean people and the People's Army achieve greater results in the future under the leadership of the respected Comrade President Kim Il-song and Comrade Kim Chong-il, the supreme commander of the KPA.
On 7 June, the delegation met with the Chinese National Defense Minister Chi Haotian. During the meeting, the defense minister said that the people and Armies of the two countries fought shoulder to shoulder during the anti-Japanese war period opposing the Japanese imperialist aggressors, and that during the fatherland liberation war, they shed blood and fought together in one dugout against the U.S. imperialist aggressors. He emphasized that the friendship between the two countries was truly bonded by blood. He said that since the people and Armies of the two countries shared joys and sorrows on the road of revolutionary struggle, they were one in mind. He stated that China is happy with the results being achieved by the Korean people and the People's Army in socialist construction and in strengthening national defense, as though the results were their own.
Next, the defense minister arranged a dinner for the delegation. Participants of the banquet and dinner made a toast for the long life of the great leader Comrade Kim Il-song, for the long life of the dear leader Comrade Kim Chong-il, and for the long life of the Chinese party and state leaders including the respected Comrades Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin.
[Page: S7221]
Daily Reports PRC to Send 85,000 Troops if War Breaks Out
Western diplomatic sources in Hong Kong said on 11 June that China promised to send a ground army of approximately 85,000 troops to North Korea if a war breaks out on the Korean peninsula and, also, to provide credit assistance--such as food and energy--to the latter if UN economic sanctions are effected.
The sources said: Such an agreement between China and North Korea was discussed between the key leaders of the North Korean party and government, who visited China in early June, and the relevant high-level officials of the Chinese party and Army. As a result, a final agreement was reached during the visit by Choe Kwang, chief of the General Staff of the North Korean Army, to China on 7 June.
Prior to these remarks, a military source in Hong Kong once said that according to the China-North Korea Friendly Treaty signed in 1961, China has formulated plans to support North Korea by sending ground troops between 50,000 and 75,000 soldiers--who belong to the three divisions of the 39th Shenyang Military District Army stationed in Dalian--as well as approximately 10,000 rapid deployment troops [sinsok paechigun] of the Jinan Military District to the latter. The source said, however, that China will send its troops to North Korea only if North Korea is cornered as a result of an invasion by the United States and South Korea, and that if North Korea invades South Korea, China will not directly provide military support to North Korea, except for spare parts or ammunition for the Chinese-made weapons North Korea currently possesses.
The sources said: Prior to the China visit by Choe Kwang, chief of the General Staff of the North Korean Army, North Korea had sent over 10 high-level leaders from each ministry--such as the Workers Party of Korea, the Army, the Ministry of People's Armed Forces, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Metal Industry--to Beijing to discuss the issues--such as China's participation in a war if it breaks out on the Korean peninsula, as well as its economic support for North Korea if the United Nations imposes economic sanctions on North Korea--with the relevant Chinese authorities, including leaders of the Communist Party of China and its People's Liberation Army. In return for China's support for North Korea, North Korea has proposed that it will grant China the right to use the ports in the East Sea areas, and that it will provide materials such as nonferrous metals and cement to China.
They also said: Kim Kyong-hui, younger sister of Kim Chong-il, a director of the Light Industrial Department of the Workers Party of Korea, visited Beijing in late May to hold working-level meetings with the Chinese side in order to discuss its economic support for North Korea. She is expected to return home around 13 June.
Meet With Jiang Zemin 7 June
Comrade Jiang Zemin, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, president of the state, and president of the Central Military Commission, on 7 June received a military delegation of our country led by Comrade Choe Kwang, member of the Political Bureau of the Workers Party of Korea Central Committee, vice chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission, and chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army.
At the talks, the head of the delegation conveyed greetings from the great leader Comrade Kim Il-song and the dear leader Comrade Kim Chong-il to Comrade Jiang Zemin.
Expressing deep thanks for this, Comrade Jiang Zemin asked the head of the delegation to convey his warm greetings to the great leader Comrade Kim Il-song and dear leader Comrade Kim Chong-il.
Comrade Jiang Zemin stressed that PRC-DPRK friendship was personally provided, strengthened, and developed by Comrade Kim Il-song, the respected leader of the Korean people, together with revolutionaries of old generations including President Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai of the Chinese people. He said that this friendship is forged with blood.
Stating that the two nations of the PRC and DPRK are amicable neighbors with lips-and-teeth relations, Comrade Jiang Zemin pointed out that the two parties, two nations, and two armies have a traditional friendship.
He emphasized that it is of great significance in the past and at the present time as well to strengthen and develop such a friendship, and that the Chinese party and government attach great significance to developing friendly relations with DPRK. He said that he is satisfied with the fact that relations between the two parties and two nations are developing.
He noted that it is a firm policy of the Chinese party and government and is the desire of the whole party and all the people to strengthen and develop PRC-DPRK friendship, and stressed that they will make efforts for this.
Present at the talks were Zhang Wannian, chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army; Cao Gangchuan, deputy chief of General Staff; the ambassador of our country to the PRC; and the military attache in the Embassy.
`Strengthening' of Ties Viewed
Beijing, June 7 [date as received] (KCNA): `Strengthening and developing Sino-Korean friendship are the firm policy of our party and government as well as the desire of our whole party and people, and we will make efforts to this end,' declared Jiang Zemin, general secretary of the Central Committee [C.C.] of the Communist Party of China, president of the republic and chairman of the Central Military Commission.
He said this when he met Tuesday the visiting military delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea led by Choe Kwang, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the Workers' Party of Korea, vice-chairman of the National Defence Committee of the DPRK and chief of the Official Staff of the Korean People's Army.
Jiang Zemin said friendship between China and the DPRK is one provided, consolidated and developed by the respected leader of the Korean people Comrade Kim Il-song together with Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai and other revolutionary veterans of the Chinese people and forged in blood.
Noting that the two countries are friendly neighbours in the lips-and-teeth relationship, he said the two parties, two countries and two armies have traditional relations of friendship.
He stressed that further strengthening and developing such relations--past or present--is always of great significance.
`The Chinese party and government regard their friendly relations with the DPRK important, and are satisfied with the development of the relations between the two parties and two countries,' he added.
Mr. PRESSLER. Madam President, it is outrageous that the Chinese and North Koreans are holding these meetings at this time. It is amazing we do not hear more about it. Our President should speak publicly about this.
Madam President, it is not in anyone's interest for there to be a nuclear arms race either in the Korean Peninsula or in the rest of Asia. Therefore, recent events in Beijing can only be described as puzzling. All this time it seems the United States has been trying to get North Korea to back down. Yet, all the while, North Korea and China have been meeting on a military level. These nations' top military people are meeting, and nobody is saying anything about it.
As a result, I have sent a letter to President Clinton citing the discussions in Beijing from June 6 to June 13 between the highest military leadership in China and their North Korean counterparts. I have spoken many times on this floor about the Chinese nuclear buildup and military buildup. In the next 10 years, our main military antagonist will be China. Japan will not stand still. Eventually, they, too, will try to get the bomb. North Korea and China are working hand in hand, yet nobody will acknowledge this.
Finally, we wonder what to make of the report of China's pledge of 85,000 troops to the aid of North Korea in time of war. At a time when China should be pressing North Korea to adopt a peaceful stance, these statements and meetings seem to suggest other objectives. I go on:
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Considering North Korea's history of aggression and state terrorism, the United States should not allow it to develop nuclear weapons without challenge. If those who have influence and leverage with the North Korean leadership choose to avoid their responsibilities, the United States will need to reevaluate its strategy for maintaining peace in the region.
So we are at a critical juncture with North Korea. At that very moment we find their top military people spending a week with the Chinese top military figures. It is not in anyone's interest for North Korea to maintain its nuclear weapons program. As North Korea's longtime ally, China is obliged to take the lead in convincing the North Korean leadership of the absolute necessity that its nuclear weapons ambitions must be abandoned.
END
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