03 November 1999
Text: Gilman Nov.3 News Release on North Korea Report
(North Korea threat to the United States has increased) (700) The comprehensive threat posed by North Korea to U.S. national security has increased since 1994, according to House International Relations Chairman Benjamin Gilman. In a November 3 press conference, Gilman released the North Korea Advisory Group report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives which, he said, "contains new information that the American people deserve to know and to understand about the threat now posed by North Korea to our nation's security." "First," Gilman said, "the American people need to know that there is significant evidence that North Korea is continuing its activities to develop nuclear weapons." Despite the fact that the United States is now the primary benefactor of North Korea, the New York Republican said, North Korea has deployed missiles capable of striking the United States with chemical, biological, or possibly nuclear weapons. The study, Gilman added, revealed that the North Korean regime has established prisons for the specific purpose of imprisoning hungry children. "It is no exaggeration to say that the North Korean regime has the worst human rights record of any government in the world," he said. Following is the text of the press release: (begin text) HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE PRESS RELEASE November 3, 1999 GILMAN RELEASES NORTH KOREA REPORT WASHINGTON (November 3) - U.S. Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman (20th-NY), Chairman of the House International Relations Committee, released a congressional report today detailing the comprehensive threat that North Korea poses to the United States and it allies. The report is available on the Web at: http://www.house.gov/international_relations/nkag/report.htm. Gilman released the following statement concerning the report: "The Speaker asked us to answer a question: Does North Korea pose a greater threat to U.S. national security than it did five years ago? In sum, we found that the comprehensive threat posed by North Korea to our national interests has increased since 1994. "Specifically, we think this report contains new information that the American people deserve to know and understand about the threat posed by North Korea to U.S. security. "First, the American people need to know that there is significant evidence that North Korea is continuing its activities to develop nuclear weapons. "Remarkably, North Korea's efforts to acquire uranium technologies, that is, a second path to nuclear weapons, and their efforts to weaponize their nuclear material do not violate the 1994 Agreed Framework. That is because the Clinton Administration did not succeed in negotiating a deal with North Korea that would ban such efforts. It is inexplicable and inexcusable. "Second, the American people need to know that North Korea can currently strike the United States with a missile capable of delivering a chemical, biological, or possibly, nuclear weapon. "In the chart on page three of the report, the inner ring represents the maximum North Korean missile range in 1994. The outer ring represents the maximum North Korean missile range today. "And third, I don't believe the American people know that the United States has replaced the Soviet Union as the primary benefactor of North Korea with some $645 million in aid over the past five years. We supply half of North Korea's heavy fuel oil needs and feed one third of the population. It is as if some foreign power fed 90 million Americans each day. "We were not asked to make specific recommendations as part of our report, and we remained within the confines of our mandate. "Let me just address one more issue, one that I believe is very important. Our study revealed that the government of North Korea has established prisons for the specific purpose of imprisoning hungry children. It is no exaggeration to say that the North Korean regime has the worst human rights record of any government in the world." Members of the North Korea Advisory Group are: Reps. Ben Gilman, Floyd Spence, Porter Goss, Chris Cox, Tillie Fowler, Sonny Callahan, Doug Bereuter, Curt Weldon, and Joe Knollenberg. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
