Congressman Pete King

Rep. King Urges Bi-Partisan Response to North Korea

North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons is a threat not just to Asia but to the United States and the world. Kim Jung Il, the leader of North Korea is a madman. His country is impoverished, with virtually all of its budget spent on weapons and armaments. In fact, North Korea is not a country in any real sense of the word. It is an organized crime family disguised as a country.

President Clinton and President Bush each attempted to negotiate with North Korea and got nowhere. While the United States was negotiating in good faith, Korea continues to pursue nuclear capability and is now capable of producing nuclear weapons.

While there is no easy answer, we must take action and we should attempt to do it in a bi-partisan way. China is essential to this process because it provides North Korea with most of its energy and food supplies. China could bring North Korea’s nuclear program to a halt almost overnight by cutting off these supplies. China is reluctant to do so because it fears a wave of starving North Korean immigrants storming across its border and the possible reunification of Korea.

If China continues to refuse to act the United States should consider dealing directly with Japan and South Korea. The thought of Japan rearming and possibly developing its own nuclear program could well convince China to be more cooperative. In any event, the Obama administration and Defense Secretary Robert Gates have made the proposal of working directly with Japan and South Korea and I would support this policy if they go forward with it.

We cannot have a madman with nuclear weapons. I assure you I will work with the Administration and Congress on this vital issue.