[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 188 (Tuesday, November 28, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S17671-S17672]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                       SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 29

 Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, in going through the Congressional 
Records I came across Senator Frank Murkowski's comments on Senate 
Joint Resolution 29.
  In that resolution, he calls for dialog between North and South 
Korea.
  Almost a year ago, Senator Murkowski and I visited North Korea and 
South Korea, and I applaud what he suggests in this resolution and his 
leadership on it.
  Let me add that I believe the United States could be a facilitator of 
this dialog.
  Senator Murkowski and I sent a letter suggesting that North Korea 
send 10 parliamentarians to the United States and South Korea the same, 
and that after visiting the United States for about 8 days, that the 
parliamentarians of both countries meet the last 2 days in an isolated 
setting with a few of us who would be hosts from the United States.
  Because of the tensions that have arisen since the death of Kim Il 
Sung neither side was willing to take that step.
  It is time to explore this again.
  Nowhere in the world do you have as many troops facing each other, 
heavily armed, with a total lack of communication between the two 
sides.
  The potential for explosion is very real and there are 140,000 
American troops on the South Korean side.
  We would have an interest in resolving this even without the presence 
of those troops but that adds a meaningful dimension to this.
  I am sending a copy of these remarks to the Assistant Secretary of 
State for Asia, Winston Lord.
  I ask that the text of the resolution be printed in the Record.
  The text of the resolution 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 

[[Page S 17672]]
     ``[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 Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled,

     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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