[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 18, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E573-E574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CONDEMNING THE NORTH KOREA ROCKET LAUNCH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 18, 2012

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, last week, the despotic regime in 
North Korea

[[Page E574]]

launched a rocket under the guise of sending a ``weather satellite'' 
into outer space. Fortunately, the three-stage missile failed within 
two minutes and crashed into the sea, a setback for the North Korean 
military but a moment of relief for that country's peace-loving 
neighbors.
  While this missile test was a failure--so spectacular a failure that 
even the propaganda arm of North Korea's government admitted it--that 
does not mean that any next such test will also fail. This launch was 
another slap in the face to the United States by a regime that has 
repeatedly violated agreements we have made in good faith. The Obama 
Administration has yet again attempted to negotiate with a terrorist 
regime that uses every negotiation opportunity to buy time to develop 
its nuclear program. Meanwhile, thousands of North Koreans are 
starving.
  In the most recent ``Leap Day Agreement'' entered into with the 
United States, Pyongyang agreed to suspend major elements of its 
nuclear program and refrain from any long-range missile launches. We, 
in turn, would provide another 240,000 tons of nutritional assistance. 
Now we have once again provided the regime with food which they 
reportedly sell for hard currency in order to continue to prop up their 
military programs. North Korea yet again chooses to violate violates 
its part of the deal.
  I have read reports that estimated the cost of the failed rocket 
launch at $850 million. The same report said that the cost of the 
launch cost would have been enough money to buy 2.5 million tons of 
corn and 1.4 million tons of rice--or enough for the North Korean 
Government to feed millions of its starving people. This to me is 
criminal behavior. This launch was a gesture of contempt for the 
efforts of the United States, the Republic of Korea, and our other 
partners in Northeast Asia who have been working to prevent nuclear 
proliferation on the Korean peninsula and to damper North Korea's 
belligerence.
  We must remain vigilant not only in preventing missile tests but also 
in preventing North Korea's further attempts to develop nuclear 
weapons.
  For more than six decades, it has been the policy of the U.S. 
government to promote peace, stability, and security in Northeast Asia 
and in the Korean Peninsula.
  South of the Demilitarized Zone, these efforts have seen tremendous 
and unparalleled success. Since the armistice ended the Korean War in 
1953, our ally South Korea has grown economically and matured 
politically. Korea is now a model democracy, one of the most successful 
in East Asia, and it shares with the United States the values of 
liberal governance, free enterprise, and regional security.
  By contrast, North Korea is ruled by a family dynasty that disdains 
those values and seeks to undermine them.
  South Korea now has the 11th-largest economy in the world. It is the 
seventh-largest trading partner with the United States. Over the past 
six decades, Americans have fought side-by-side with our allies from 
the Republic of Korea not only in the Korean War, but also in Vietnam, 
Iraq, and Afghanistan.
  Over two million Americans of Korean descent live in our country, 
raising families, building businesses, and contributing to their 
communities. Thousands of South Korean students are enrolled in 
American colleges and universities. Many Korean tourists and business 
travelers visit the United States each year.
  The bonds between the United States and Korea are strong and long-
lasting, dating back to the 1882 Treaty of Amity and Commerce--130 
years ago.
  We have no ill wishes for the people of North Korea, whose government 
does not represent them. That 1882 friendship treaty was made with all 
of Korea and we look forward to the day when all Koreans and all 
Americans may participate fully in amity and commerce.
  Sadly, the belligerent nature of the North Korean regime has 
postponed that bright day.
  For that reason, in this time of tension in Northeast Asia, I urge my 
colleagues to condemn, unequivocally, North Korea's programs to develop 
both nuclear bombs and long-range missiles. We must insist that these 
projects be ended in the interest of peace and stability.

                          ____________________