[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 79 (Tuesday, June 21, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         NORTH KOREA AND CHINA

  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.
                                  ____


       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:

       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.

                          ____________________