[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 66 (Thursday, April 24, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E715]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HOLDING NORTH KOREA ACCOUNTABLE

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                           HON. CLIFF STEARNS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 24, 2008

  Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, in 2006 the world was alarmed when North 
Korea tested a nuclear device. Since then, North Korea has been 
pressured to reveal details about its nuclear program, but it has 
blatantly defied transparency deadlines and Six-Party talks have 
yielded few results.
  North Korea has recently re-declared its intent to provide a 
``complete and correct'' declaration of all its nuclear programs, but 
while the U.S. awaits this declaration, we shouldn't reduce the 
necessary pressure required to hold North Korea accountable to its 
promises.
  The U.S. should not ease sanctions on North Korea until we have 
sufficient verification measures in place. Specifically, North Korea 
should not be removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism 
until it accurately declares the number of nuclear weapons and the 
amount of fissile material it has. We must continue to insist on full 
transparency and not acquiesce to deceitful North Korean rhetoric.

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