[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 16 (Thursday, January 26, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E180]]
 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS WITH RESPECT TO 
              THE RECONCILIATION OF NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA

                                 ______


                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 25, 1995
  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, the Administration has in recent months 
claimed several foreign policy victories. However, American taxpayers 
should recognize that one of these victories, the recent accord between 
the United States and Communist North Korea, may prove extremely 
costly.
  The Administration has hailed the agreement as the beginning of the 
end of a perilous nuclear crisis. But, the nuclear crisis appears far 
from over since North Korea is not required to dismantle all its 
nuclear facilities for at least 10 years. The Administration has played 
down the concessions the United States must provide to North Korea 
within this ``gentlemen's agreement''. Additionally, the Administration 
appears to have slighted the traditionally close United States 
coordination with our democratic and reliable ally, South Korea.
  Under the agreement, which was signed on October 21, the United 
States will organize a consortium including South Korea and Japan to 
supply North Korea with two light-water reactors. These reactors are 
less useful for bomb-making than the North's existing technology. In 
return, North Korea will freeze its nuclear program and promise to open 
its nuclear sites eventually to inspection.
  A serious flaw is that the accord allows North Korea to postpone 
United Nation's ``special inspections'' of its nuclear sites until one 
of the light-water reactors is nearly in place, a process that will 
take at least 5 years--and probably longer.
  These inspections are necessary to determine whether Pyongyang has 
extracted weapons-grade plutonium for its spent-fuel stock. We should 
take into account, though, that in the last two years, Pyongyang has 
concluded nuclear agreements with both the United Nations International 
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Seoul that it has failed to fulfill. 
The Administration offered North Korea economic and political benefits 
and granted the North up to 10 years, or longer, to fulfill pledges it 
has already refused to honor.
  While these light-water reactors are being assembled, a process that 
will take a decade or more, the United States-led consortium will 
provide North Korea with free crude oil as an alternative energy 
source, gradually reduce trade barriers, work toward exchanging 
diplomatic missions and provide a negative security assurance.
  Both Tokyo and Seoul officially welcomed the agreement. However, the 
accord is drawing fire from South Korea's opposition Democratic party 
(DP) as well as from conservatives with the majority party, the 
Democratic Liberal Party (DLP). The DP is decrying the cost to Seoul of 
two light-water reactors, estimated as high as $4 billion, and the 
requirement to pay for the crude oil that is supposed to serve as North 
Korea's alternative energy supply. Conservative members of the DLP 
similarly oppose the high price tag and the generous delays offered to 
the North. There is growing popular South Korean sentiment that North 
Korea has outmaneuvered Washington and marginalized the South's input 
into this issue. This agreement may jeopardize an alliance that has 
been very close and productive for many years. I believe we must move 
to reaffirm the importance of close United States coordination with the 
South Korean Government.
  The Administration should take steps to guarantee that the 
implementation of the agreement is linked to substantive progress in 
the reconciliation of North and South Korea. To that end, the 
Administration should develop specific timetables for achieving 
measures which will reduce tensions between North and South Korea. For 
example, specific timetables should be developed for the prompt 
dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear processing facility. Timetables 
for the establishment of liaison offices between North and South Korea 
should be developed. Mutual nuclear facility inspections between North 
and South Korea should be initiated. Furthermore, the Administration 
should develop timetables for the establishment of a North-South joint 
military to discuss steps to reduce tensions between North and South 
Korea.
  The Administration should immediately appoint a presidential envoy to 
deal directly with the real leadership in Pyongyang. This presidential 
envoy should be respected and experienced in negotiating with Koreans. 
One of the envoy's first actions should be to call on the North to 
resume substantive, high-level talks with Seoul immediately
  Today, I, along with my colleagues Representatives Kim (CA) and 
Solomon (NY), have introduced a concurrent resolution which outlines 
several steps I think the Administration should take to strengthen the 
United States-North Korea Agreed Framework. Likewise, Senators 
Murkowski, Simon, Robb and Helms have introduced identical legislation 
in the other body.
  I urge my colleagues in the House to join me by cosponsoring this 
very important concurrent resolution. By taking these steps, the 
agreement between the United States and the heavily armed North Korean 
regime may ultimately be a success.


                          ____________________