[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 45 (Friday, March 10, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S3814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             THE UNITED STATES-NORTH KOREA AGREED FRAMEWORK

 Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, as the chairman of the Senate 
Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs I come to the floor of 
the Senate this afternoon to briefly respond to certain statements made 
yesterday by representatives of the Government of the Democratic 
People's Republic of Korea regarding the agreed framework between our 
two countries governing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's 
nuclear program.
  North Korea has, for the second time in a month, again threatened to 
scuttle the agreement by making ludicrous take-it-or-leave-it demands. 
This time, it refuses to accept delivery from the Republic of Korea of 
two light-water reactors called for under the framework. The Democratic 
People's Republic of Korea's Foreign Ministry issued a statement in 
Switzerland stating that if the United States does not agree to another 
country furnishing the reactors, ``because of the United States' 
attitude in insisting on supplying the South Korea type, we will be 
forced to take an appropriate position.'' The statement continued, 
``Even if that brings about the breakdown of the framework agreement * 
* * we will have nothing to lose but fear.''
  Mr. President, I--and, I am sure, my colleagues--grow weary of the 
continual 11th hour posturing and brinkmanship which seems to be the 
mainstay of the North's negotiating strategy. In a speech in the Senate 
on February 13, 1995, I made clear my position:

       I will not support the provision by the United States of 
     one scintilla more than is called for in the Agreed Framework 
     without substantial concessions from the DPRK; nor will I 
     accept any diminution of the central role that has been set 
     out for the ROK. South Korea is making a huge contribution to 
     implementing the agreement, and it is their national interest 
     that is most at stake. To accede to any demands by the DPRK 
     in this regard is to assist it in its ongoing attempts to 
     undermine US-ROK relationship.

  This apparently bears repeating to drive it home to the North. If the 
Democratic People's Republic of Korea thinks that we will capitulate on 
the reactor issue, it is seriously mistaken. To put it into words that 
the Government in Pyongyang cannot mistake, its wish for reactors 
manufactured elsewhere is like a hungry man looking at ``keurim eui 
teok i da,'' rice cakes in a picture. The North Koreans need to know, 
clearly and unequivocally, that on this point the Congress and 
administration are in complete and unwavering agreement; there is no 
acceptable alternative. We will stand by our position, stand by our 
principles, and most importantly stand by our important ally South 
Korea. If Pyongyang chooses to abandon the agreement, then so be it, we 
will quickly find ourselves back at the U.N. Security Council where the 
Democratic People's Republic of Korea will find itself the subject of 
tough economic sanctions.
  Mr. President, next week at my behest the members of the Foreign 
Relations Committee will meet with Ambassador Galucci. I look forward 
to that meeting both as an opportunity to hear first hand about these 
latest developments, and as a chance to reiterate my position for the 
administration.


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