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Royce Statement on North Korea Nuclear Challenge

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the House Subcommittees on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation (ITN) and Asia and the Pacific held a joint hearing to examine the North Korean nuclear proliferation challenge and the prospects for moving forward with a solution to solve this threat. The following is the opening statement of ITN Subcommittee Chairman Ed Royce:

"Some of us were skeptical of the 1994 Agreed Framework, which seemed only to strengthen North Korea's hand. North Korea's announcement last week that it would counter what it called the United States' 'hostile policy' by increasing its nuclear weapons arsenal and suspending its participation in the six-party talks is just the latest in Pyongyang's well-established pattern of deceit.

"I have also been skeptical of policies designed to bolster the North Korean economy, so-called 'Sunshine Policies.' Since 2000, I have chaired the U.S.-Republic of Korea Interparliamentary Exchange, an ongoing series of meetings between members of the Korean National Assembly and the U.S. House. A large part of our discussions have focused on Korean Peninsula security. The policy of investing in North Korea, propping-up the Kim Jong-Il regime, to me, promises little but its continued disdain and non-cooperation. I wish advocates of this policy in Northeast Asia showed greater concern for the plight of the North Korean people. Instead, many would prefer to ignore the brutality in the North, the camps that torture and work several hundred thousand Koreans to death. Thankfully, last year Congress passed and President Bush signed into law the North Korea Human Rights Act. Ignoring the human rights condition in North Korea gives us a false picture of the regime we are confronting.

"The United States must employ a broad approach to nonproliferation policy - using all the tools at our disposal. While treaties and talks are important, new and effective efforts, like the Proliferation Security Initiative, should be advanced. The Illicit Activities Initiative, aimed at curbing North Korean exports of drugs, counterfeit currency, and other contraband must be vigorous. Radio broadcasting must be employed to crack Kim Jong-Il's monopoly on information. The human rights agenda must be pushed. All of these tools make for a broadened and more effective nonproliferation policy.

"Lastly, I will note that two years after withdrawing from the Nonproliferation Treaty, no action has been taken against North Korea. We should work with like-minded countries to challenge this step. Anything less erodes the NPT, which has been the cornerstone of nonproliferation policy, and emboldens others, like Iran, to follow suit."