[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 129 (Thursday, September 24, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H8537]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            NORTH KOREA'S RECENT TAEPODONG I MISSILE LAUNCH

  (Mr. UNDERWOOD asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, on August 31 of this year, the government 
of North Korea tested its first three-stage missile over Japan. The 
missile, a modified Taepodong I, which traveled approximately 1,500 
kilometers, landed in the Pacific, northwest of Misawa U.S. Air Force 
base in Japan.
  Mr. Speaker, despite horrific famine, devastating floods and economic 
quarantine, North Korea has demonstrated its ability to strike targets 
in Japan and beyond. Missile defense experts have cited that this test 
is a key milestone in North Korea's efforts to develop their long-range 
ballistic missile that could conceivably place Alaska, Guam, and 
possibly Hawaii within the cross hairs of North Korean aggression.
  Today, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) and I are introducing a 
resolution which condemns North Korea for this act of international 
recklessness. Mr. Speaker, let us being honest here. This resolution 
will not stop North Korean missiles from being developed or exported. 
It will not compel an apology from Kim Jong Il. But what it does do is 
announce to the regime in Pyongyang, in no uncertain terms, that we are 
watching and we are taking notice of their actions. I urge my 
colleagues to please support this resolution.

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