[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 554 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 554

          To condemn North Korea's missile launch over Japan.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 24, 1998

   Mr. Underwood (for himself and Mr. Young of Alaska) submitted the 
     following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                        International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
          To condemn North Korea's missile launch over Japan.

Whereas on August 31, 1998, the Government of North Korea launched a 3-stage 
        ballistic missile in and over the territorial airspace and waters of 
        Japan;
Whereas North Korea launched this missile for the purpose of launching a 
        satellite into orbit in a reckless manner over inhabited lands of Japan, 
        a sovereign and independent nation, without warning, provocation, or 
        permission;
Whereas the missile that was fired is a modified version of the Taepodong I, 
        which has an estimated range of up to 6,000 kilometers;
Whereas the Taepodong I missile is a medium range ballistic missile capable of 
        delivering a nuclear, chemical, or biological weapon of mass 
        destruction;
Whereas North Korea has ignored international attempts to curb the proliferation 
        of ballistic missile technology and as a result has been earning an 
        estimated $1,000,000,000 annually from illicit missile sales to other 
        rogue nations such as Iran, Syria, and Libya;
Whereas the success of any subsequent tests of the Taepodong I will further 
        advance the development of North Korea's long range ballistic missile 
        program, the Taepodong II, with a range of approximately 4,000 to 6,000 
        kilometers, thus placing Guam and Alaska at risk of an attack;
Whereas recent defectors from North Korea have indicated that North Korea's 
        Taepodong and Nodong missile programs are in the final stages of 
        development;
Whereas United States intelligence assets have indicated that a large new 
        underground complex is being built near Pyongyang, contrary to the 
        spirit of the 1994 Agreed Framework that halted development of North 
        Korea's nuclear weapons program;
Whereas the North Korean Government is willing to conduct its foreign policy in 
        a game of brinkmanship in order to boost morale and improve its 
        bargaining leverage in international negotiations; and
Whereas the Taepodong I missile directly places all 37,000 United States troops 
        in South Korea and 44,000 United States troops in Japan at risk: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns North Korea's Government and military for the 
        missile launch over Japan of August 31, 1998;
            (2) calls on the Government of North Korea to cease all 
        production of weapons of mass destruction and cease 
        proliferation of ballistic missiles to other nations; and
            (3) calls on the Government of North Korea to abide by the 
        1994 Agreed Framework entered into by North Korea, the United 
        States, Japan, and South Korea.
                                 <all>