[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 150 (Tuesday, November 19, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              PAKISTAN'S NUCLEAR EXCHANGE WITH NORTH KOREA

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                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 19, 2002

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my grave concern 
regarding Pakistan's transfer of equipment to support North Korea's 
covert nuclear weapons program.
  Mr. Speaker, I am outraged that North Korea has violated its 
commitment to the United States, established in a 1994 accord, to 
freeze its nuclear program. According to reports by your 
administration, North Korea has in fact been secretly building a 
program to enrich uranium since the late 1990's.
  What I find appalling is that this nuclear program that the United 
States worked tirelessly to halt, was in fact sustained through the 
assistance of Pakistan. Not only did the transfer of critical equipment 
from Pakistan to North Korea take place around 1997, in addition, this 
relationship has continued even after President Musharraf seized power 
by force in 1999. Lastly, Pakistan is thought to have provided 
technology up to even three months ago--I find this particularly 
outrageous.
  The Bush administration has declined to openly discuss Pakistan's 
involvement in this crucial situation with North Korea. Although the 
administration seems to have evidence pointing to Pakistan's direct 
involvement, I see no punitive measures taking place because Pakistan 
is a U.S. ally in the war on terrorism. In fact, Pakistan has received 
over one billion dollars' worth of direct and indirect assistance from 
the U.S. since September 11, 2001. I find it incredible that the U.S. 
has provided virtually all the assistance President Musharraf has 
requested, yet at the same time, Pakistan still continues to consort 
with North Korea by exchanging nuclear equipment for missiles.
  Mr. Speaker, I sent a letter to President Bush last month urging the 
administration to conduct a full investigation of Pakistan's role in 
providing North Korea with nuclear information and equipment. We must 
fully investigate President Musharraf's relationship with North Korea 
since his military coup in 1999, and even more important, to what 
extent this relationship between the two nations continued after 
September 11, 2001. To this day, I have not received a response to my 
request.
  In addition, I requested that the administration take immediate steps 
to ban all military sales to Pakistan and to reimpose Symington 
sanctions on Pakistan for assisting a foreign nuclear weapons program. 
Lastly, I urged the administration to also take similar steps and ban 
any future arms sales they have with Pakistan. I have not received a 
response to these requests either, however, it seems clear that the 
administration is opposed to imposing any corrective measures on 
Pakistan.
  Mr. Speaker, I am reiterating these requests that I had previously 
made to the administration because I think it is important for us to 
understand that Pakistan should not be exempted of its responsibility 
in colluding with North Korea over a nuclear weapons program. This 
situation poses a direct threat to our allies in Asia and to our safety 
in the United States.
  Since the administration is not inclined to recognize the severity of 
Pakistan's relationship with North Korea, an ``axis of evil'', and 
since the administration is not willing to use its authority to 
reimpose the Symington Sanctions, I will introduce legislation early in 
the 108th Congress to sanction Pakistan for delivering nuclear 
enrichment equipment without international safeguards as determined by 
the Symington Amendment of 1976.
  Mr. Speaker, we must show Pakistan that their promise to help us in 
our war on terrorism cannot be an empty promise. They cannot have it 
both ways and until President Musharraf learns this lesson we must 
reinstate the Symington Sanctions to protect our allies in Asia and our 
own nation.

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