Congressional Conservatives Threaten Rebellion on N. Korea Policy

A reader and friend forwarded me a press release by three conservative Republican members of Congress (thanks), including the Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.  The press release accompanies a letter that urges “caution” on Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in attempting to normalize diplomatic and trade relations with the North too quickly.  The clear subtext is that conservatives think that Rice may not be demanding enough of North Korea in meeting the necessary prerequisites on disarmament, terrorism, counterfeiting, and human rights. 

Click below the read the full text of both documents.

Text of Statement from Reps. Ros-Lehtinen, Royce, and Manzullo follows:

“The expeditious removal of the DPRK from the State Department’s annual list of state sponsors raises serious concerns over the integrity of the list, which has gained additional relevancy in a post-September 11th world,” the three wrote in the letter to Rice, which was publicly released today.

The three members cited issues of missile technology proliferation to nations of concern in South Asia and the Middle East, the continued counterfeiting of U.S. currency; and the numerous kidnapping cases involving U.S., Korean and   Japanese citizens going back decades as reasons to move cautiously with North Korea.

The three also cited the presence of Iranian observers during the July 4, 2006 missile test launch by North Korea and the country’s ties to the A.Q. Khan network. 

“Continued counterfeiting of U.S. currency also warrants special U.S. concern for the preservation of the integrity of our currency and the economic wellbeing of our people,” the letter states, also suggesting that, “Counterfeiting another nation’s currency is widely recognized as an economic act of war.

“The State Department’s list of terrorist states cannot be used as a bargaining chip in diplomatic negotiations.  It will ultimately lead to a greater threat to American security in the future,” the three wrote in the letter.

Ros-Lehtinen, Royce and Manzullo also wrote that in order to remove North Korea from the list the United States must require the regime cease its involvement in terrorist activities; have not engaged in state-sponsorship of terror for the preceding 4 years; resolve all outstanding cases of past terrorist activities (including the kidnapping of Japanese and South Korean citizens and U.S. residents and the reported assassination of a South Korean diplomat in Vladivostok in 1996); and abide by international anti-terrorism agreements.

“Until these requirements are met, there is no guarantee that North Korea will not revert to activities that have earned it the designation as a state-sponsor of terror,” the letter concludes.

Text of the letter to Secretary Rice follows:

The Honorable Condoleezza Rice

The Secretary of State

U.S. Department of State

Washington, D.C.

Dear Madam Secretary:

In the short time the 110th Congress has been in session, the foreign policy debate in Congress has largely focused on Iraq and North Korea .  With respect to North Korea and its past linkage to terrorism, we would like to express some concern regarding the February 13th Six-Party Joint Statement.  We wish to draw your attention to the wording, which states the United States will “begin the process of removing the designation of the DPRK as a state sponsor of terrorism.   The expeditious removal of the DPRK from the State Department’s annual list of state sponsors raises serious concerns over the integrity of the list, which has gained additional relevancy in a post-September 11th world.

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) to rogue regimes or international terrorist networks constitutes an act of terrorism.  Pyongyang continues to transfer missile technology to nations of concern in South Asia and the Middle East .    Moreover, during last year’s July 4th missile launch by North Korea , the international press reported the presence of Iranian “observers.   Concern over possible proliferation of WMDs by Pyongyang is particularly grave due to North Korea ‘s past ties to the A.Q. Khan network.  Pyongyang ‘s possible continuing proliferation is an even greater threat to American security than its nuclear weapons, because Pyongyang at present lacks delivery capability.

Further, the numerous kidnapping cases cannot be ignored as they constitute acts of terrorism.  Ambassador Cofer Black, former State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism, stated publicly in 2004 that the Japanese abductees taken by force to North Korea represent an important element of the State Department’s “concern of North Korea being on the state sponsor list.   Additionally, there is the unresolved kidnapping of the U.S. permanent resident, Reverend Kim Dong-Shik.  A South Korean court has confirmed North Korean official involvement in this kidnapping.  The Illinois Congressional delegation has made its interest over the Reverend Kim crystal clear in a letter sent two years ago to the North Korean UN Ambassador.  The lack of a response, or even an acknowledgement of the letter, is a further cause for Congressional concern.  It is our firm belief that North Korea should remain on the terrorist list until the kidnapping issues with both Japanese citizens and the U.S. permanent resident are resolved and assurances are given regarding any such future acts.

Continued counterfeiting of U.S. currency also warrants special U.S. concern for the preservation of the integrity of our currency and the economic wellbeing of our people.  Under the Patriot Act Section 311, the Treasury imposed sanctions in 2005 against a Macau bank involved in the acceptance of illicit deposits from North Korea . Counterfeiting another nation’s currency is widely recognized as an economic act of war.  We have no conclusive proof that Pyongyang has ceased or reduced its production of counterfeit U.S. currency.  Lifting economic sanctions will only send a message to Pyongyang that the U.S. will turn a blind eye while this illicit activity continues. 

The State Department’s list of terrorist states cannot be used as a bargaining chip in diplomatic negotiations.  It will ultimately lead to a greater threat to American security in the future.  In order to be removed from the list, the DPRK must: (1) have verifiably ceased its support for or involvement in terrorist activities; (2) not have engaged in state-sponsorship of terror for the preceding 4 years; (3) have resolved all outstanding cases of past terrorist activities (including the kidnapping of Japanese and South Korean citizens and U.S. residents and the reported assassination of a South Korean diplomat in Vladivostok in 1996); and (4) have signed and is abiding by international anti-terrorism agreements.    Until these requirements are met, there is no guarantee that North Korea will not revert to activities that have earned it the designation as a state-sponsor of terror under 6(J) of the Export Administration Act.

We look forward to working with you and your foreign policy team on North Korean issues, as well as any other areas of concern, to protect and preserve our national interests.