[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1477]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CALLING ON NORTH KOREA TO END HOSTILE RHETORIC AND ACTIVITY TOWARD 
                              SOUTH KOREA

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. SCOTT GARRETT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 15, 2009

  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, yesterday morning, 
President Barack Obama welcomed to our nation's capital Lee Myung-bak, 
President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea). President Lee's 
friendship and alliance with this country is an integral part of the 
United States' policy in Northeast Asia, specifically as it relates to 
the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). I join 
President Obama in welcoming President Lee to the United States. On 
behalf of the Fifth District of New Jersey, I thank President Lee for 
his leadership in the region and wish him and his nation well.
  Though separated by an ocean, the interests of our two nations are 
joined in the face of current events. The nuclearization of North Korea 
poses a danger to the security of both the United States and South 
Korea. There can be no mistake: the threats of Pyongyang cannot be 
ignored, nor can they be tolerated. North Korea must cease its pursuit 
of nuclear technology and reengage in dialogue with its neighbor on the 
Korean Peninsula.
  On Monday, the House passed H. Res. 309, of which I was pleased to be 
an original cosponsor. This bipartisan resolution calls on North Korea 
to cease its hostile rhetoric, discontinue its nuclear program, and 
engage in mutual dialogue with South Korea. An immediate end to North 
Korean aggression is the only acceptable resolution to this conflict.
  Continued North Korean hostility will only serve to harden inter-
Korean relations and result in the further destabilization of the 
region. The policy of the U.S. must be to reject any nuclear 
aspirations or antagonistic rhetoric on the part of North Korea and its 
leadership. We should not relent, nor should we apologize for 
implementing economic sanctions against the North. Rather, we should 
make it clear that additional economic and diplomatic consequences are 
in store if North Korea continues its reckless course.
  North Korean hostility not only endangers South Korea, the United 
States, and our allies; it poses a danger to the North Korean people as 
well. Kim Jong-il has drawn his people into a conflict they have not 
sought. While the dictator pursued nuclear arms and other weaponry, 
millions of North Koreans have starved to death in the last two 
decades. The posture of their leader is a poor representation of the 
North Korean people.
  I support President Obama in the steps he has taken to censure North 
Korea's recent hostilities. I now urge the Administration to continue 
using diplomatic pressure to disarm North Korea and encourage bilateral 
discussions between the North and the South.

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