[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 11 (Thursday, January 18, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E62-E63]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         APPLY ALL DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE POSSIBLE TO NORTH KOREA

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 18, 2018

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, North Korea continues to be one of the 
great menaces of our time. Its relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons 
and the means to deliver them onto American shores, threatens the lives 
of millions and needlessly risks a major war.
  However, this evil regime has not only looked to develop nuclear arms 
to hold the world hostage and murder countless innocent people. It is 
expanding its arsenal to introduce some of the most horrific weapons of 
war this world has ever seen. Based on what evidence is available, 
North Korea has built or continues to research a broad range of 
chemical and biological weapons that could unleash untold savagery on 
its neighbors and Americans in the region.
  Furthermore, the regime has amassed the conventional military forces 
needed to rain down destruction on its southern neighbor on a scale 
approaching the level of carnage that a nuclear weapon can produce. 
Millions of people living in Seoul are within range of thousands of 
North Korean rockets and artillery.
  On immediate order from the supreme leader, these guns can bombard 
the South Korean capital and dozens of communities along the 
demilitarize zone with high explosive shells and chemical warheads, 
killing tens of thousands of civilians in the first hour of a 
conflict.The urgency of the North Korean threat cannot be understated 
and must be understood in full context.
  The regime has shown us its brutality and willingness to use globally 
condemned weapons. Just last year, Kim Jong Un's half-brother was 
assassinated using VX nerve agent in a busy Malaysian airport.
  VX is banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention and is more potent 
than any other chemical weapon devised by man. Its ability to virtually 
kill on contact, gives little time to treat individuals exposed. And 
unlike other chemical weapons, it has the ability to sit for long 
periods of time where it was dispersed, creating a deadly obstacle for 
medical professionals trying to respond to a VX attack.
  The recklessness of Little Kim's decision to use it in public place 
shows how little regard he has for innocent human life. With the 
availability of drone technology, the North Korean regime could easily 
spray the nerve agent across heavily populated areas. It is unclear how 
we should respond to such an incident. With nuclear weapons, we have a 
clearly stated policy: if you use yours, we will respond with ours.
  We must develop and communicate a clear strategy to how we will 
respond if Little Kim were to use chemical or biological weapons in his 
next clash with the U.S. and South Korea. When the Syrian regime 
conducted a chemical attack on its own people in 2013, then-President 
Obama did not have a clearly held 'red-line.'

[[Page E63]]

  The Obama administration displayed little resolve and did not respond 
with force--instead it made a deal with the Russians so supposedly 
destroy the Assad regime's chemical weapons stockpiles. But last spring 
we saw the Syrians use chemical weapons again. Fortunately the Trump 
administration did not waver, and respond with sufficient force to 
deter further use of the deadly weapons.
  This example demonstrates that if we show weakness in the face of 
these horrific weapons, it will only invite continued use of them. We 
should also consider where the Assad regime acquired these weapons of 
mass destruction. Available evidence points to the Kim regime. And 
despite the Obama administrations deal with Putin, reports suggest 
Assad may be trying to acquire more chemical weapons from North Korea.
  Last August, the United Nations revealed that two North Korean 
shipments destined for Syria were intercepted. While it is unclear what 
the cargo was, we know they were intended for the Syrian agency 
responsible for Assad's chemical weapons program.
  So while Little Kim may not have ordered an attack with his chemical 
weapons arsenal yet, he is actively assisting those rogue actors who 
are using chemical weapons.
  Recent reports also indicate that North Korea is developing the means 
to produce biological weapons on a massive scale. We do not know if he 
has deployed these new bioweapons, but given the example he has shown 
with his nuclear and chemical programs, it is not unreasonable to 
believe they will be soon.
  This evil regime has repeated demonstrated that it rarely hesitates 
when pushing the limits of international resolve. To prevent North 
Korea from expanding its arsenal of deadly weapons and proliferating 
them to the world's worst actors, we must continue to apply all 
pressure available.
  Our sanctions should block all sources of funding and material for 
this regime. Only when Little Kim feels the pain and sees that his 
dangerous pursuit weapons of mass murder will result in his own demise, 
will he be tempted to back down. America must lead the way, and show 
that any use of these deadly weapons will be met with a harsh response.
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________