[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 147 (Thursday, November 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2021-E2022]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONDEMNING NORTH KOREA FOR ITS FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE NON-
                          PROLIFERATION TREATY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 13, 2002

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss a very 
serious issue--the failure of North Korea to comply with a number of 
non-proliferation treaties, agreements, and resolutions, and the 
absence of any well-defined U.S. policy with that country.
  The history of nuclear weapons proliferation in North Korea is a 
lengthy one, going back over a decade and a half when North Korea 
signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty. When it signed that treaty in 
1985, North Korea agreed not to manufacture or acquire nuclear weapons, 
and also agreed that the International Atomic Energy Agency could 
conduct inspections to verify fulfillment of those obligations.
  When that Agency discovered anomalies in North Korea's nuclear 
facilities in 1993, inspectors were no longer allowed into the country.
  Seeking to end the stalemate, the U.S. and North Korea signed the 
Agreed Framework in October, 1994. Under the terms of the Agreed 
Framework, the U.S. created an international consortium, which would 
provide North Korea with alternative sources of energy in the form of 
heavy fuel oil and a modern nuclear power plant. In return, North Korea 
pledged to freeze its existing nuclear program and allow inspectors 
back into the country.
  Shortly after the Framework was signed, the consortium, the Korean 
Peninsula Energy Development Organization, was created. Despite

[[Page E2022]]

the fact that the U.S. and its allies have spent over $1.3 billion to 
finance reactor construction and provide heavy fuel oil to North Korea 
annually, they have consistently failed to allow inspections of its 
nuclear facilities.
  Then last month, North Korea admitted that it has been operating a 
covert nuclear weapons program.
  The existence of a North Korean nuclear weapons program poses a real 
and imminent threat to the populations of South Korea, Japan, and North 
Korea, and to the U.S. Armed Forces stationed in that region.
  The time has come for the U.S. to establish an effective policy 
regarding U.N. member states and their obligations towards world peace 
and disarmament.
  Today, I am introducing a resolution, condemning the government of 
North Korea for its failure to comply with the non-proliferation treaty 
and the Agreed Framework.
  First, my resolution calls on North Korea to honor its commitments 
under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Agreed Framework. Those 
commitments include freezing its nuclear programs and allowing the IAEA 
to carry out inspections.
  It also commends the members of the KEDO international consortium for 
honoring and upholding their commitments to advance the implementation 
of the Agreed Framework.
  Second, my resolution calls on the IAEA to report to the U.N. General 
Assembly, one year from the date of the Resolution, on the status of 
North Korea's compliance with inspections.
  If the IAEA report indicates that North Korea has still not allowed 
inspections, members of KEDO are called on to suspend all funding for 
construction, suspend construction of the light water reactor, and 
suspend shipment of heavy fuel oil.
  And finally, the Resolution calls on the leaders of Russia, China, 
Japan, South Korea, and other concerned nations to support that 
potential suspension.
  I believe that this Resolution is an important first step in 
achieving the non-proliferation treaty goal of nuclear disarmament.
  I do not recommend, as many have suggested, simply declaring the 
Agreed Framework null and void. I believe that ``suspending'' our 
participation until North Korea complies with its obligations sends an 
important message. That message is--we honor our commitments, we expect 
you to honor yours, and we believe that diplomatic and peaceful 
solutions, with the full support of other concerned nations, are the 
optimum means for attaining the objectives outlined in the Non-
Proliferation Treaty.
  Realize, this is only the first step on what will be a long and 
arduous path. This Resolution allows diplomatic discussions and 
negotiations to continue, it also allows our Secretary of State to 
garner support from members of the U.N. Security Council and other 
concerned nations to join in commitments to the non-proliferation 
treaty.
  I have specifically not included any language in the Resolution on 
actions that might be taken after one year if inspectors are still not 
allowed into North Korea. It is more appropriate to leave that decision 
to the member nations on the U.N. Security Council.
  There are nearly 38,000 U.S. Armed Forces currently stationed on the 
Korean peninsula, and another 40,000 stationed in Japan. We have a lot 
at stake as a nation in ensuring a peaceful solution to this issue. At 
the same time, we must take steps to overcome this impasse. It is not 
reasonable for the United States to continue unilateral compliance with 
a bilateral Agreement.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  I believe this resolution will guide our nation towards implementing 
a policy that is achievable, and attainable, and supportable.

                          ____________________