[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 89 (Monday, June 15, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H6752-H6756]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1430
  CALLING ON NORTH KOREA TO END HOSTILE RHETORIC AND ACTIVITY TOWARD 
                              SOUTH KOREA

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the resolution (H. Res. 309) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that North Korea should immediately stop any hostile 
rhetoric and activity towards the Republic of Korea and engage in 
mutual dialogue to enhance inter-Korean relations, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 309

       Whereas North Korea's nuclear tests and missile activities, 
     and their suspected proliferation, are threatening peace and 
     stability in Northeast Asia and beyond;
       Whereas the North Korean leadership continues to pursue its 
     nuclear ambitions while up to 2,000,000 North Koreans 
     reportedly starved to death during the late 1990s and 
     hundreds of thousands fled North Korea in search of freedom 
     and food;
       Whereas, on October 18, 2004, H.R. 4011, the North Korean 
     Human Rights Act, became Public Law 108-333, bringing 
     attention to the human rights conditions in North Korea and 
     to provide United States support for North Korean refugees;
       Whereas, on October 9, 2006, North Korea detonated a 
     nuclear explosive device prompting the United Nations 
     Security Council to adopt military and economic sanctions 
     against North Korea through Resolution 1718;
       Whereas, on June 30, 2008, H.R. 2642, the Supplemental 
     Appropriations Act, became Public Law 110-252, granting the 
     President the authority to waive the Glenn Amendment 
     sanctions in order to facilitate North Korea's 
     denuclearization process and to provide heavy fuel oil energy 
     assistance to North Korea in support of the Six-Party Talks;
       Whereas, on October 7, 2008, the North Korean Human Rights 
     Reauthorization Act became Public Law 110-346;
       Whereas, on October 11, 2008, North Korea was removed from 
     the United States list of state sponsors of terrorism;
       Whereas, on October 15, 2008, the Naval Vessel Transfer Act 
     became Public Law 110-429 and included provisions to upgrade 
     the Republic of Korea's foreign military sales status to that 
     of ``NATO plus three'';
       Whereas, on January 30, 2009, North Korea announced that it 
     would nullify all inter-Korean agreements that are in pursuit 
     of putting an end to the state of political and military 
     confrontations and abrogate the agreements on the Sea 
     Demarcation Line, known as the ``Northern Limit Line'';
       Whereas, on February 3, 2009, President Barack Obama 
     stated, in a call with the Republic of Korea's President Lee 
     Myung-bak, that recent events underscore the need for the 
     United States and the Republic of Korea to work together even 
     more closely to achieve complete and verifiable 
     denuclearization of North Korea;
       Whereas, on February 10, 2009, Secretary of State Hillary 
     Clinton stated that North Korea must understand that all of 
     the countries in East Asia have made it clear that North 
     Korea's recent behavior is viewed as unacceptable;
       Whereas, on February 20, 2009, Secretary of State Hillary 
     Clinton stated, in a joint press conference with the Republic 
     of Korea's Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan, that the United 
     States and the Republic of Korea maintain a joint resolve to 
     bring about the complete and verifiable denuclearization of 
     North Korea through the Six-Party Talks and that North Korea 
     is not going to get a different relationship with the United 
     States while insulting and refusing dialogue with the 
     Republic of Korea;
       Whereas for more than a year, North Korea has refused 
     proposals from the Republic of Korea for mutual dialogue and 
     also has refused to fully implement the Six-Party agreements 
     on denuclearization;
       Whereas, on April 5, 2009, North Korea launched a missile 
     in clear violation of United Nations Security Council 
     Resolution 1718 prompting a statement by President Obama 
     condemning the launch;
       Whereas, on April 13, 2009, the United Nations Security 
     Council adopted a Presidential Statement condemning the 
     launch;
       Whereas, on April 14, 2009, North Korea declared that it 
     would withdraw from the Six-Party Talks and resume its 
     nuclear program, and subsequently expelled International 
     Atomic Energy Agency inspectors at the Yongbyon facility;
       Whereas, on April 29, 2009, North Korea announced that 
     unless the United Nations Security Council promptly apologize 
     for infringing the sovereignty of North Korea, and withdraw 
     resolutions and decisions adopted against North Korea, it 
     would conduct nuclear tests and test-firings of 
     intercontinental ballistic missiles, and build a light water 
     reactor plant and start the technological development for 
     ensuring self-production of nuclear fuel;
       Whereas, on May 25, 2009, North Korea announced that it has 
     conducted a second nuclear test and in successive days, North 
     Korea has launched six short-range missiles and threatened to 
     abrogate the July 27, 1953, armistice ending the Korean War;
       Whereas, on May 29, 2009, North Korea announced that it 
     would ``take additional self-defense measures'' if the United 
     Nations Security Council takes any further actions against 
     North Korea;
       Whereas, on June 12, 2009, the United Nations Security 
     Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1874, which condemns 
     North Korea in the strongest terms, and imposes stronger 
     sanctions on North Korea by introducing measures to conduct 
     cargo inspections, to restrict North Korea's Weapons of Mass 
     Destruction-related financial transactions, and to strengthen 
     the arms embargo; and
       Whereas in face of serious security challenges on the 
     Korean Peninsula, including the recent North Korean 
     hostilities towards the Republic of Korea, the alliance 
     between the United States and the Republic of Korea remains 
     resilient and firm, based on shared values, mutual trust, and 
     common interests: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that--
       (1) North Korea should immediately stop any hostile 
     rhetoric and activity towards the Republic of Korea and 
     engage in mutual dialogue to enhance inter-Korean relations;
       (2) North Korea should fully implement the Six-Party joint 
     statement of September 19, 2005, verifiably abandon all of 
     its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs, and return 
     to the Non-Proliferation Treaty at an early date;
       (3) North Korea should comply with United Nations Security 
     Council Resolutions 1718 of 2006 and 1874 of 2009;
       (4) the United States remains committed to the promotion of 
     inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation; and
       (5) the strategic importance of the strong alliance between 
     the United States and the Republic of Korea, in promoting 
     peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast 
     Asia, should be recognized.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Bilirakis) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from American Samoa.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution expressing 
the sense of the House of Representatives that North Korea should 
immediately stop its hostile activities and instead return to dialogue.
  Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier of my strong support of H. Res. 309, 
it is a

[[Page H6753]]

thoughtful, timely, and relevant resolution offered by my dear friend 
and colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. King). I also wish to 
recognize the contributions and efforts of my colleague, Mr. Meeks, 
also from New York. He was the principal Democratic lead cosponsor and 
is a member of my Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global 
Environment.
  Mr. Speaker, this important and bipartisan resolution shares, at its 
substantive core, three key principles. First, it expresses a unified 
sense of the Congress that North Korea should cease all hostile and 
destabilizing activity on the Korean Peninsula. Second, it calls on 
North Korea to reengage in dialogue with South Korea, as well as with 
the Six-Party Talks. And, third, it reaffirms our unconditional and 
unwavering commitment to our alliance partnership with the Republic of 
Korea.
  As we are all aware, North Korea's recent hostile activities have 
once again brought world attention to the fragile peace and tenuous 
security framework on the Korean Peninsula. In a span of less than 3 
months, North Korea conducted another nuclear test, launched several 
intercontinental ballistic missiles, and suspended or nullified all 
major inter-Korean agreements, including the armistice that has 
maintained peace between North and South Korea since 1953.
  Even more alarming, Mr. Speaker, North Korea removed IAEA inspectors 
at Yongbyon and announced that it was restarting its plutonium 
production program with the ultimate aim of weaponizing its nuclear 
material. Meanwhile, amid the hostile brinksmanship, two American 
journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, were captured, tried, and 
sentenced to 12 years in prison for reform by hard labor.
  North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Il, has let it be known that his 26-
year-old son, Kim Jong Un, will succeed him as he succeeded his own 
father. North Korea's communist leadership regime is being solidified 
into a totalitarian, hereditary, authoritarian regime.
  These startling events have unquestionably precipitated the necessity 
of a unified congressional response to North Korea's hostile acts, 
while also sending a message of strong solidarity and support for our 
close friend and ally, the Republic of Korea.
  Just last Friday, the United Nations Security Council unanimously 
adopted a resolution condemning ``in the strongest terms possible'' 
North Korea's nuclear test, imposing new sanctions, demanding that the 
Democratic People's Republic of Korea not conduct any further nuclear 
test or any launch using ballistic missile technology, and urging 
Pyongyang to come back to the Six-Party Talks without preconditions.
  House Resolution 309 before us today will reinforce the Security 
Council's message that Pyongyang's recent actions are unacceptable, and 
it will also reinforce a message President Obama and Secretary of State 
Clinton both underscored regarding the strength of our alliance with 
South Korea.
  The administration and the international community have sent clear 
messages to North Korea about its provocations, and it is time that 
Congress also follows suit.
  Mr. Speaker, our consideration of House Resolution 309 today is 
rendered all the more relevant by the visit of President Lee Myung-bak 
to Washington. I understand that his incredibly busy schedule will 
include a summit with President Obama and meetings with Cabinet 
officials and the House and Senate leadership. I was also made aware 
that President Lee will receive the honorary doctorate degree from 
George Washington University, where he was a visiting scholar 10 years 
ago.
  Mr. Speaker, it is always a special occasion when Korea's President 
visits the United States, and I certainly would like to extend a 
sincere welcome and best wishes to President Lee, whom I had the honor 
of meeting with last year in Seoul.
  Mr. Speaker, for almost 1\1/2\ years now, since his inauguration last 
February, President Lee has continually emphasized the importance of a 
strategic alliance with the United States, and this has been manifested 
through several notable achievements. Most recently, South Korea joined 
the Proliferation Security Initiative aimed at preventing the spread of 
weapons of mass destruction. In November of last year, Korea formally 
acceded to the Visa Waiver Program. In October, a currency swap 
agreement was signed between our two countries to stem the liquidity 
issues in the global financial markets. And through legislation passed 
by our Congress last September, Korea's Foreign Military Sales status 
was officially upgraded to the level of NATO plus three.
  President Lee was also instrumental in arranging for the resumption 
of the importation of beef imports from the U.S. to Korea after 
diffusing a sensitive political situation that temporarily halted our 
imports of beef to South Korea. His determination to settle the beef 
issue underscores the important commercial ties between Korea and the 
United States.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish to close my remarks by offering a few thoughts on 
the importance of reaffirming our alliance partnership with Korea. The 
history of relations between our two countries, which can be tracked 
back to a treaty of friendship more than 25 years ago, has been marked 
by consistency and mutual solidarity between our two nations.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in strong support of this resolution put forward in March by 
my good friend and Homeland Security ranking member, Peter King, to 
show solidarity with our South Korean allies in their hour of need. Its 
consideration is timely; it is timed to coincide with tomorrow's 
Washington summit meeting with the President of the Republic of Korea.
  North Korea is fast becoming a foreign policy crisis spiraling out of 
control. In April, there was a long-range missile launch; in May, there 
was another underground nuclear test. Only 1 week ago, a Pyongyang 
kangaroo court took the provocative and morally reprehensible act of 
sentencing captured U.S. citizen journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee to 
12 years in a labor camp. North Korea also continues to hold a South 
Korean citizen as a hostage. Our thoughts and prayers are with those 
captives and their families.
  The United Nations Security Council has finally passed a resolution 
with some teeth. Unfortunately, U.N. Resolution 1718, passed in 2006 
after Pyongyang's first nuclear test, was ignored when North Korea 
returned to the negotiating table.
  North Korea's response to this latest U.N. resolution has been more 
bluster and brinkmanship. The North Koreans revealed, to no one's 
surprise, that they have maintained a highly enriched uranium program 
all along, in addition to their plutonium program. They now threaten 
the world with more bombs and possible nuclear war.
  Earlier this month, Kim Jong Il sent a patrol boat into South Korean 
waters to back up his threats made against our South Korean ally. Some 
are now convinced that there will be a future military confrontation 
along the DMZ or in the Yellow Sea. And today, 28,500 U.S. military 
personnel still stand guard in South Korea, a country often called 
``the last frontier of the Cold War.''
  The ``Dear Leader'' is obviously testing the mettle of this President 
and this Congress. Kim Jong Il has responded to the outstretched hand 
of President Obama's inaugural address with missiles, nuclear bombs, 
the seizure of American citizens, and a threat of war. He is preparing 
to launch yet another long-range missile, one that could reportedly 
reach the United States and is likely to conduct yet another 
underground nuclear test.
  I say enough is enough. Now is the time for the consequences which 
our current North Korean Special Envoy, Stephen Bosworth, promised 
after the April 5 missile launch. Last week, Secretary Clinton raised 
the re-listing of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism as one 
possible consequence. But a few days later, the House Rules Committee 
refused to allow consideration of an amendment to the Foreign Relations 
Authorization Act, offered by my good friend and ranking member, 
Representative Ros-Lehtinen, which would have done just that. It is 
unfortunate that Secretary Clinton would consider this, but not the 
House leadership.

[[Page H6754]]

  The time for hesitancy is over, Mr. Speaker. America needs to respond 
to North Korea.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the ranking member, Mr. King 
from New York, as much time as he may consume.
  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida 
for yielding.
  At the outset, let me thank Chairman Berman and Ranking Member Ros-
Lehtinen for the support they have given me on this resolution and for 
bringing it to the House floor. Also, let me thank my colleague from 
New York (Mr. Meeks) for being the prime cosponsor of the bill and for 
his support in pushing it forward. And of course Mr. Faleomavaega, who 
does a truly outstanding job as chairman of the subcommittee, I want to 
thank him as well.
  Mr. Speaker, when I first introduced this resolution back in March, 
it was clear then, obviously, that Korea was a major threat to world 
stability and a major threat to the national security of the United 
States, and of course also to its Asian neighbors. Well, since then, 
the situation has only gotten worse. As Mr. Bilirakis pointed out, it 
has been step after step of aggressive action, provocative action, 
action defying world opinion, defying resolutions of the United 
Nations, and absolutely defying agreements that have been made with the 
Six Parties over the previous years.
  Mr. Speaker, President Clinton reached out and tried to engage North 
Korea, President Bush obviously reached out and tried to engage North 
Korea, began the Six-Party Talks, made China a part of that process; 
and yet at every stage, when it comes to weaponizing uranium, plutonium 
and moving forward, North Korea has refused to respond in good faith. 
And when they do make a feeble attempt at good faith, it is obviously a 
ploy, and they renege as soon as any concession is made by the United 
States or any of our allies. So, Mr. Speaker, I think it is important 
that we send a message to the North Korean Government.
  And let's be clear about this. When we are talking about the North 
Korean Government, we're really talking about an organized crime family 
masquerading as a state. Kim Jong Il defies every standard of decency 
that is built up in the community of nations. I think it is important 
to realize that, especially when North Korea is contrasted with the 
Republic of Korea, which has become a model democracy and it is such a 
strong and staunch ally of the United States.
  So as we go forward, Mr. Speaker, I think it is important for the 
President and the Secretary of State to know that Congress will stand 
behind them if they have to take stronger action, if they have to 
really lean back and push back against North Korea. I think everything 
should be on the table. The fact is that we now have a situation where, 
with going forward with its nuclear program, North Korea really puts 
its neighbors in jeopardy, and perhaps soon after that Europe and the 
United States, with their missile system, with the delivery system, 
with the nuclear relationships. And I think everything should be on the 
table, including a very strong missile defense system. And we should 
have an open debate, put partisanship aside and stand together as 
Americans to confront what could be a mortal danger to our allies and 
also causing the situation in Asia to spiral out of control. I 
certainly think when Japan sees what North Korea is doing, as far as 
advancing its nuclear program, we could well see Japan considering a 
nuclear program. We have strong friends, such as Taiwan, who now will 
be in danger.
  Also, it is time for China to realize that they have a major role to 
play in solving this crisis. The fact is, North Korea could not survive 
if it did not receive its energy and its food supplies from China. And 
China should realize that this game can only go on for so long where 
they somehow take a certain delight in North Korea antagonizing the 
United States. And also, they feel they can buy off North Korea with 
their food and energy, and they don't want refugees streaming across 
their border. But this has now gone beyond the stage where we are just 
talking and sitting down; we are talking about the very security of the 
United States being in danger here.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this resolution. Yes, we have 
to continue constructive dialogue, we have to engage, to the extent we 
can, with North Korea; but the fact is that, as Mr. Bilirakis said, 
when the President reached out in good faith--President Clinton, 
President Bush, and now President Obama have reached out in good 
faith--the response to them has been an iron fist, it's been missiles, 
it's been rockets, and it's been weaponizing of nuclear fissile 
material.

                              {time}  1445

  So rather than be caught short, rather than our being victims of 
something which we should anticipate now, let us stand together, and I 
certainly reach out across the aisle so that all of us, as Republicans 
and Democrats and as Americans, can stand with the President as he goes 
forward, and hopefully he will, to stand up to this really blatant 
aggression, I believe, by North Korea and send a message to Kim Jong 
Il, whether it's him or his son, no matter who ends up controlling or 
calling the shots in North Korea, that it will be met by concerted 
action from the United States. And also call on countries such as China 
to start doing what they should be doing, and to reassure our allies 
such as Japan and Taiwan that the United States will do all it can to 
prevent and stop North Korea from becoming a nuclear power.
  I urge adoption of the resolution.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I want to commend and thank my good friend, the gentleman from New 
York for his sponsorship, again, of this important resolution and 
certainly thank him for his insights and understanding of the current 
situation that we're faced with as far as dealing with North Korea.
  Mr. Speaker, the geopolitical situation now, the realities and the 
development as a result of North Korea's latest activities now, makes 
it absolutely necessary for the United States to strengthen our 
alliance and partnership with South Korea.
  The security alliance between the United States and Korea has been 
pivotal ever since it was forged through much shedding of blood during 
the Korean War some 60 years ago. As I recall, over 33,000 of our men 
and women in military uniform died as a result of that terrible 
conflict known as the Korean War.
  Without question, South Korea has remained a steadfast U.S. ally, 
especially in our time of need, whether it be the horrific conflict of 
Vietnam, where I personally served at the time, where some 50,000 South 
Korean soldiers were right there fighting alongside the members of our 
Armed Forces there at that time. When we needed assistance in Iraq, 
Afghanistan, Lebanon, and other global hotspots, South Korea responded 
affirmatively and dependably as our ally. The foundation of our 
friendship and alliance is unshakeable. Through our shared values and 
common history, we are able to meet global challenges together, ranging 
from terrorism to the current crisis in North Korea.
  Mr. Speaker, our economic and trade relationship with South Korea is 
one of the strongest in Asia, and currently South Korea is our seventh-
largest trading partner in the world. In 2007 our two countries 
concluded a free trade agreement that now awaits approval by our 
Congress as well as the Korean National Assembly.
  In my opinion, Mr. Speaker, the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement will 
bring tremendous benefits to both of our countries. The International 
Trade Commission has forecast that the elimination of tariffs on U.S. 
goods under the agreement would increase our GDP by about $11 billion a 
year. The agreement will also eliminate regulatory and other nontariff 
barriers that have historically restricted access by farmers, 
manufacturers, and service providers. And to the South Korean market, 
with growing difficulties and the health of our economy, in my opinion, 
this proposed agreement will be a win-win situation: a win for our 
workers, a win for our businesses, and a win for our consumers.

[[Page H6755]]

  But perhaps the most compelling argument supporting a free trade 
agreement with this important ally of ours is the very reason that we 
are gathered here in support of House Resolution 309. The geopolitical 
factors in East Asia and North Korea's recent destabilizing actions 
necessitates a firm and tangible U.S. commitment in the region. And 
realizing that the free trade agreement would send the right message to 
both North and South Korea that we seek an even stronger and more 
comprehensive economic and trade relationship with our important ally, 
the Republic of Korea.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation 
and Trade, the Member from California (Mr. Royce).
  Mr. ROYCE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Congressman Peter King of New 
York's legislation. I think it's very important at this point in time 
to recognize, as we have discussed today, the importance of that 
relationship that we have with South Korea and to recognize also just 
how much of a test North Korea's provocative actions have been for our 
allies in South Korea.
  If we think back to the aftereffect of the Korean War and how South 
Korea lay in ruins and think today about the fact that South Korea has 
one of the highest per-capita incomes in the world and yet we look at 
North Korea and it has the lowest, it is truly dramatic. I have been in 
North Korea, and it's phenomenal to me to see the kind of devastation 
that that misrule has led to in terms of the population, the stunted 
growth, the malnutrition that you can see when you meet people. But 
particularly for our friends in South Korea, who today are one of our 
strongest trading partners, particularly for them at this point in 
time, when we see this North Korean foreign policy, which has always 
been aggressive but lately has included long-range missile tests; has 
included three-stage ICBMs; includes booting U.N. inspectors from the 
country; the sentencing of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, two young American 
journalists, sentencing them to 12 years hard labor; the ongoing 
counterfeiting of U.S. $100 bills; missile proliferation out of North 
Korea; drug trafficking and other illicit activities, so many illicit 
activities that I think some of us are confounded by the fact that 
almost half of the hard currency that goes into that regime is money 
they make through illicit activities. And now North Korea has conducted 
a second underground nuclear test in 3 years. We are in the midst of a 
leadership struggle, and many expect as a result more provocations, 
more missile tests, even more nuclear tests perhaps over the ensuing 
months.
  Weeks after the North Korean test, the U.N. Security Council has 
passed a watered-down resolution. And just as the previous 
administration did after North Korea's October 2006 nuclear test, this 
U.N. action will be touted. It will be touted by our spokesman as an 
effective response. Well, we've heard this story before, unfortunately. 
It is not an effective response, and it is because, frankly, with the 
lowest common denominator U.N. resolution approach, where China and 
Russia get that opportunity to water down that resolution so that it 
won't be enforced effectively, frankly, we come to a conclusion. And 
the conclusion for me--and I've followed this issue for many years--is 
that the United States can achieve an awful lot by deploying measures 
to further undercut North Korea's economy and to target its 
proliferation activities. We have found that the source of doing that 
before; we should do it again.
  Past attempts to squeeze the wallet of North Korea have proven very 
successful. When banks from across Asia refused to do business with the 
North Koreans after a bank in Macau was shut down by U.S. sanctions for 
laundering counterfeit U.S. currency for North Korea, it brought 
enormous pressure. It was at a point in North Korea where the previous 
ruler, Kim Jong Il, temporarily the ruler, could not pay his generals. 
And that was until this effort was dropped with the belief that North 
Korea would bargain its nuclear program away. Those sanctions were 
lifted. North Korea got back on its feet. The work that they were doing 
on missile proliferation could begin again because they had the hard 
currency again.
  There were reports that North Korean counterfeiting of our $100 bills 
has been ramped up in recent months. News reports indicate that South 
Korea has given us the information on between 10 and 20 North Korean 
bank accounts, most of them in China, one of them in Switzerland. One 
former U.S. official has called that Macau bank--and I have been in 
Macau and we have seen those $100 bills--he calls that the tip of the 
iceberg of North Korean illicit activity.
  We know what to do now. We know what worked in terms of shutting them 
down when we were willing to do it. So if we have the will, we can do 
that again.
  Mr. Speaker, North Korea's second nuclear test in 3 years offers a 
silver lining: clarity of the intentions of that regime. In case we 
didn't know it before, in case we didn't suspect it when we found that 
they were helping Syria on the banks of the Euphrates, when they were 
helping Syria develop a nuclear program, North Korea has dropped the 
pretense of being willing to negotiate away its nuclear program. We 
have learned, as Peter King, our colleague from New York, has told us, 
about the work done on uranium enrichment in addition to the plutonium 
program. They had a secret underground program that they never divulged 
to us.
  South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who will be visiting Washington 
this week, advocated for a new approach with respect to the Six-Party 
Talks in a weekend interview. That South Korea, our ally for over 60 
years, is pressing for a fresh approach should speak volumes to us, and 
I hope we are listening.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I want to thank my good friend and colleague the gentleman from 
California for his comments, certainly one of the most recognized 
experts that we have in the House as far as issues dealing with the 
Korean Peninsula. I do thank him for his thoughts and sentiments on 
this important issue.
  Once again, Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank my good friend the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. King) and also Mr. Meeks for offering this important 
resolution and especially also the chairman of our committee, Mr. 
Berman, and also our senior ranking member, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, for their 
leadership and their support in bringing this bill before the floor.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution and 
offering President Lee our best wishes for a pleasant visit to 
Washington and a successful summit with President Obama sometime this 
week.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Once again, I want to thank my good friend Peter King, 
the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, for introducing 
this very important resolution, very timely as well. And I urge quick 
and unanimous passage.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to convey 
the importance of the passage of H. Res. 309, which urges North Korea 
to cease all hostile rhetoric and activity toward the Republic of 
Korea. In the interest of the Korean people, it is imperative that 
Korea begin to engage in a dialogue in an effort to improve inter-
Korean relations. Development can only come about with sincere and 
diplomatic communication via inter-Korean engagement.
  North Korea's nuclear and missile program, and their suspected 
proliferation, is one of the gravest threats to international peace and 
stability in Northeast Asia and beyond. The time has come for the North 
Korean regime to abandon its nuclear weapons and all nuclear programs, 
and revert to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) post haste. Yet North 
Korean leadership continues to pursue its nuclear ambitions while up to 
2,000,000 North Koreans reportedly starved to death during the late 
1990s and hundreds of thousands fled North Korea in search of freedom 
and food.
  Given the urgency of timing and development on the issue of North 
Korea's nuclearization, President Obama noted in a call with the 
Republic of Korea's President Lee Myung-Bak on February 3, 2009, that 
recent events underscore the immediate need for the United States and 
the Republic of Korea to work together even more closely to achieve 
complete and verifiable denuclearization of

[[Page H6756]]

North Korea. As North Korea continues to pursue proliferation, time is 
running out for the plausibility of comprehensive denuclearization. On 
February 10, 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that North 
Korea needs to understand that all of the countries in East Asia have 
made it clear that North Korea's recent behavior is viewed as 
unacceptable. Furthermore, on February 20, 2009, Secretary of State 
Hillary Clinton stated, in a joint press conference with the Republic 
of Korea's Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan, that the United States and 
the Republic of Korea maintain a joint resolve to bring about the 
complete and verifiable denuclearization of North Korea through the 
Six-Party Talks. Secretary of State Clinton also stated that North 
Korea will not be establishing a new and different relationship with 
the United States while simultaneously insulting and refusing dialogue 
with the Republic of Korea.
  H. Res. 309 additionally requires North Korea's compliance with U.N. 
Security Council Resolution 1718, which prevents a range of goods from 
entering or leaving the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and 
imposes an asset freeze and travel ban on persons related to the 
nuclear-weapon program, should North Korea's pursuit of nuclearization 
not cease immediately. The strategic importance of the strong alliance 
between the United States and the Republic of Korea cannot be 
overstated. Such an alliance is necessary in promoting peace and 
prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, and should be 
recognized.
  In conclusion, we have reached a point in time where North Korea must 
cease their proliferation efforts. Additionally, North Korean 
leadership should scale back their weapons program by aiming to prevent 
illicit trafficking in nuclear, chemical or biological weapons. In 
order to implement change for the people of Korea and improve its image 
in the international arena, it is necessary that North Korea engage in 
inter-Korean dialogue. I urge passage of this important resolution.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I also yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) that the House suspend 
the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 309, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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