[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 177 (Thursday, November 9, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S16935-S16937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE CONGRESS ON UNITED STATES-NORTH KOREA 
                            AGREED FRAMEWORK

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar No. 35, Senate Joint 
Resolution 29.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will state the resolution by title.

       A joint resolution (S. J. Res. 29) expressing the sense of 
     Congress with respect to North-South dialogue on the Korean 
     Peninsula and the United States-Korea Agreed Framework.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the joint resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the joint 
resolution.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise today to applaud the unanimous 
passage of Senate Joint Resolution 29, a resolution which a bipartisan 
group, Senators Helms, Thomas, Simon, Robb, and I, introduced in the 
Senate Foreign Relations Committee last March.
  The resolution expresses the sense of Congress with respect to the 
serious issue of North Korea-South Korea dialog, which was a key part 
of the United States-North Korea Agreed Framework on the nuclear issue 
signed last October.
  As my colleagues are aware, I have spoken extensively about the 
problems I see in the Agreed Framework, most recently on September 29 
when I introduced S. 1293, a bill to provide for strict monitoring of 
and controls on U.S. spending on implementation of that agreement. 
There is no need to repeat those arguments here other than to stress 
the importance of passing that legislation as soon as possible.
  Today I am speaking about only one specific, and critical element of 
the Agreed Framework: the necessity of a meaningful North-South Korean 
dialog. Without such a dialog, I am convinced that implementation of 
the Agreed Framework is unworkable. That's why it is up to us to make 
sure the North Koreans fulfill that and all of their other 
responsibilities in the Agreed Framework.
  Passage of this resolution is also particularly timely when taking 
into account South Korean President Kim Young Sam's remarks to the 
Joint Meeting of Congress this summer. President Kim said:

       Peace on the Korean Peninsula can only take root through 
     dialogue and cooperation between the South and the North, the 
     two parties directly concerned. Without dialogue, nothing can 
     be accomplished. I am thus grateful that both the President 
     and Congress have stressed the central importance of the 
     South-North dialogue.

  South Korea remains a trusted and loyal ally, and I believe we must 
follow a policy toward the Korean Peninsula that keeps South Korea's 
best interests in the forefront.

[[Page S 16936]]

  Section III.(2) of the Agreed Framework specifies that ``[t]he DPRK 
will consistently take steps to implement the North-South Joint 
Declaration on the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.'' The 
Agreed Framework goes on to say in section III.(3) that ``[t]he DPRK 
will engage in North-South dialogue, as this Agreed Framework will help 
create an atmosphere that promotes such dialogue.''
  In testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Secretary 
of State Warren Christopher had this to say about these provisions:

       As part of the Framework, North Korea has pledged to resume 
     dialogue with South Korea on matters affecting peace and 
     security on the peninsula. We have made clear that resuming 
     North-South dialogue is essential to the success of the 
     Framework--so important that we were prepared to walk away 
     from the Framework if North Korea had not been willing to 
     meet that condition.

  I am gratified that the United States negotiators held firm at least 
on this issue, that is, including references to these two North-South 
issues. Nevertheless, and while I remain disturbed about many aspects 
of the Agreed Framework, I am concerned that the requirements of 
success or even progress in the North-South dialog were not spelled out 
in greater detail. For instance, what is the time line for progress? At 
what point will the United States stop fulfilling its commitments under 
the Agreed Framework if there has not been progress in North-South 
relations?
  It is this lack of specificity that led me and my colleagues to 
introduce this resolution. I know and appreciate that the 
administration is taking a firm public and private line that North-
South dialog is essential. They reiterated that position, jointly with 
the South Koreans, on November 2-3, during the annual Security 
Consultative meeting in Seoul. I also appreciate the fact that the 
administration agreed not to oppose this resolution but rather to work 
with me on achieving an objective we both support, a strong, renewed 
dialog between North and South Korea.
  However, and this is the key point, as usual, the North Koreans are 
ignoring their responsibilities and resisting restarting the dialog. 
That is why the resolution calls on the executive branch to take steps 
to ensure that the North Koreans understand that the implementation of 
the Agreed Framework is linked to substantive progress in the dialog 
between North and South Korea, including through developing timetables 
for achieving measures to reduce tensions between North and South 
Korea.
  Although not a comprehensive list, such positive measures could 
include: First, holding a North-South summit; second, dismantling North 
Korea's reprocessing facility; third, initiating mutual nuclear 
facility inspections; fourth, establishing North-South liaison offices; 
fifth, establishing a North-South joint military commission; sixth, 
expanding trade relations; seventh, promoting freedom to travel; 
eighth, encouraging exchanges and cooperation in science and 
technology, education, the arts; health, sports, the environment, 
publishing, journalism, and other fields of mutual interest; ninth, 
establishing postal and telecommunications services; and tenth, 
reconnecting railroads and roadways.
  The resolution calls on the President to report to Congress within 90 
days regarding the progress made in promoting communication and contact 
between North and South Korea, and every 6 months thereafter.
  Since the signing of the Agreed Framework with the United States, we 
have seen North Korea go to great lengths to avoid any involvement with 
South Korea. The North Koreans refused for several months to accept 
South Korean reactors. The joint press statement issued in Kuala Lumpur 
by the United States and North Korea did not include a direct reference 
to South Korea's central role in providing the light water reactors. 
And the North Koreans had maintained that the United States will be its 
principal point of contact in the negotiations.
  Also, North Korea continues to take steps to try to destroy the 
Armistice Agreement while insisting that it will only deal with the 
United States concerning an ultimate peace treaty. Further, North Korea 
continues to provide evidence that it wants to continue being a rogue 
nation, for example just a few days ago sending infiltrators into the 
South to attempt to cause problems for our ally. Mr. President, in sum, 
just as North Korea's attempts to downplay the role of South Korea 
while putting distance between the United States and South Korea must 
not be tolerated, North Korea's misbehavior should be condemned.
  I would note one recent development which had some potential for 
positive change--but then, typically, became a problem area because of 
the North's irresponsible behavior. North Korea and South Korea 
recently held talks in Beijing to discuss North Korea's renewed request 
for rice from its cousins in the South to relieve the food shortage in 
the North. This followed an earlier successful agreement to ship rice 
to the North--although the North then acted in its typically boorish 
fashion by arresting some of those who were trying to help its people. 
Now, despite the helping hand from the South, the North continues to 
resist the South's legitimate attempts to use the talks about rice aid 
to pave the way for greater dialogue.
  Mr. President, I do not need to remind my colleagues that 37,000 
American soldiers stationed on the demilitarized zone remain in harm's 
way. We all received a grim reminder of this when a United States 
helicopter was shot down on December 17, 1994, killing one United 
States airman and leading to North Korean detention of another on false 
charges of American espionage.
  These American troops are part of the nearly 2 million troops who 
face each other across a heavily fortified demilitarized zone. Three 
decades of on-again, off-again talks between Pyongyang and Seoul have 
produced no significant progress in reducing tensions. Although a 
cease-fire effectively ended the Korean War in 1953, the two sides 
technically remain at war, and tensions today are as strong and all-
pervasive as they've ever been.
  Mr. President, in sum, the Agreed Framework does not adequately 
address the inevitable underlying tensions between North and South 
Korea. Nor do I believe that North and South Korea will simply work 
everything out without some outside assistance. For that reason, I 
believe that the Clinton administration must take specific steps to 
ensure that North Korea lives up to its commitments under the Agreed 
Framework and understands that, if it does not, it will not receive the 
benefits which have been promised.
  This legislation will take us a step in the right direction. I hope 
our colleagues in the other body will also pass this legislation soon 
so that the process can begin.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the joint 
resolution be deemed read the third time, passed, the preamble agreed 
to, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, and that any 
statements relating to the joint resolution appear at the appropriate 
place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  So the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 29) was deemed read the third 
time, and passed.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The joint resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 29

       Whereas the Agreed Framework Between the United States and 
     the Democratic People's Republic of Korea of October 21, 
     1994, states in Article III, paragraph (2), that ``[t]he DPRK 
     will consistently take steps to implement the North-South 
     Joint Declaration on the Denuclearization of the Korean 
     Peninsula'';
       Whereas the Agreed Framework also states the ``[t]he DPRK 
     will engage in North-South dialogue, as this Agreed Framework 
     will help create an atmoshphere that promotes such 
     dialogue'';
       Whereas the two agreements entered into between North and 
     South Korea in 1992, namely the North-South Denuclearization 
     Agreement and the Agreement on Reconciliation, Nonaggression 
     and Exchanges and Cooperation, provide an existing and 
     detailed framework for dialogue between North and South 
     Korea;
       Whereas the North Korean nuclear program is just one of the 
     lingering threats to peace on the Korean Peninsula; and
       Whereas the reduction of tensions between North and South 
     Korea directly serve United States interests, given the 
     substantial defense commitment of the United States to South 
     Korea and the presence on the Korean Peninsula of United 
     States troops: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Represenatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled,

[[Page S 16937]]


     SECTION 1. STEPS TOWARD NORTH-SOUTH DIALOGUE ON THE KOREAN 
                   PENINSULA.

       It is the sense of the Congress that--
       (1) substantive dialogue between North and South Korea is 
     vital to the implementation of the Agreed Framework Between 
     the United States and North Korea, dated October 21, 1994; 
     and
       (2) together with South Korea and other concerned allies, 
     and in keeping with the spirit and letter of the 1992 
     agreements between North and South Korea, the President 
     should pursue measures to reduce tensions between North and 
     South Korea and should facilitate progress toward--
       (A) holding a North Korea-South Korea summit;
       (B) initiating mutual nuclear facility inspections by North 
     and South Korea;
       (C) establishing liaison offices in both North and South 
     Korea;
       (D) resuming a North-South joint military discussion 
     regarding steps to reduce tensions between North and South 
     Korea;
       (E) expanding trade relations between North and South 
     Korea;
       (F) promoting freedom to travel between North and South 
     Korea by citizens of both North and South Korea;
       (G) cooperating in science and technology, education, the 
     arts, health, sports, the environment, publishing, 
     journalism, and other fields of mutual interest;
       (H) establishing postal and telecommunications services 
     between North and South Korea; and
       (I) reconnecting railroads and roadways between North and 
     South Korea.

     SEC. 2. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

       Beginning 3 months after the date of enactment of this 
     joint resolution, and every 6 months thereafter, the 
     President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees a report setting forth the progress made in 
     carrying out section 1.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       As used in this joint resolution--
       (1) the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means 
     the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the 
     Committee on International Relations of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (2) the term ``North Korea'' means the Democratic People's 
     Republic of Korea; and
       (3) the term ``South Korea'' means the Republic of Korea.

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