Re NK: Too bad the Republicans were the only ones paying attention in 1999.....where was Byrd et al then?
North Korea Advisory Group
Report to
The Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
November 1999
house.gov
Members of the Speaker's North Korea Advisory Group
Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman, NY
Chairman, North Korea Advisory Group and Chairman, Committee on International Relations
Rep. Doug Bereuter, NE
Chairman, Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
Rep. Sonny Callahan, AL
Chairman, Subcommittee on Foreign Operations
Rep. Christopher Cox, CA
Chairman, Republican Policy Committee
Rep. Tillie K. Fowler, GA
Vice Chair, Republican Conference
Rep. Porter J. Goss, FL
Chairman, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Rep. Joe Knollenberg, MI
Member of the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations
Rep. Floyd Spence, SC
Chairman, Committee on Armed Services
Rep. Curt Weldon, PA
Chairman, Subcommittee on Military Research and Development
Staff to the NKAG
Craig Albright
Peter T. Brookes
Benedict Cohen
Chuck Downs
Michael P. Ennis
Richard J. Garon
Bill Inglee
Jay Jakub
Mark Kirk Bill Klein
Nancy Lifset
Lester Munson
Joan I. O'Donnell
Peter V. Pry
Stephen G. Rademaker
J. Walker Roberts
Wendy Selig
John Shank
The Members of the North Korea Advisory Group would like to extend a special thanks to the many talented analysts and investigators of the General Accounting Office (GAO) and the Congressional Research Service (CRS) who have contributed to this report, and specifically: Eugene E. Aloise, Assistant Director, Resources, Community & Development Division, GAO; Victor Sgobba, Evaluator, Resources, Community & Development Division, GAO; Phillip J. Thomas, Assistant Director, National Security and International Affairs Division, GAO; Ned George, Senior Evaluator, National Security and International Affairs Division, GAO; Christian Hougen, Evaluator, National Security and International Affairs Division, GAO; Dick Nanto, Specialist in Industry and Trade, CRS; Larry Niksch, Specialist in Asian Affairs, CRS; Robert Shuey, Specialist in U.S. Foreign Policy and National Defense, CRS; Zachary Davis, Specialist in International Nuclear Policy, CRS; Steve Bowman, Specialist in National Defense, CRS; Raphael Perl, Specialist in International Affairs, CRS; and Rinn S. Shinn, Foreign Affairs Analyst, CRS.
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Congress of the United States
October 29, 1999
The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Mr. Speaker:
We are pleased to transmit to you our report, which answers the question: Does North Korea pose a greater threat to U.S. national security than it did five years ago? In sum, we found that the comprehensive threat posed by North Korea to our national security has increased since 1994. Our report contains an executive summary.
We were not asked to make specific recommendations as part of our report, and remained within the confines of our mandate. It is our unanimous view, however, that the findings of our report identify a number of serious weaknesses concerning current U.S. policy toward North Korea that urgently require the attention of the foreign policy and national security committees of Congress. We strongly suggest that you direct the relevant committees to review the following issues and report back to you with their specific legislation for congressional action by a date certain.
Among the issues that need to be addressed are the following:
Current U.S. policy is not effectively addressing the threat posed by North Korean weapons of mass destruction, missiles and their proliferation.
U.S. assistance sustains a repressive and authoritarian regime, and is not effectively monitored.
Current U.S. policy does not effectively address the issues posed by international criminal activity of the North Korean government, such as narcotics trafficking, support for international terrorism and counterfeiting.
Current U.S. policy does not effectively advance internationally-recognized standards of human rights in North Korea, including liberating political prisoners and abolishing prisons for hungry children.
Current U.S. policy does not effectively encourage the political and economic liberalization of North Korea.
We believe that our report is an important first step in addressing these issues, and we look forward to working with you and the relevant committees.
Sincerely,
BENJAMIN A. GILMAN
Chairman
DOUG BEREUTER
CHRISTOPHER COX
PORTER J. GOSS
FLOYD SPENCE SONNY CALLAHAN
TILLIE K. FOWLER
JOE KNOLLENBERG
CURT WELDON
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Introduction
In August 1998, North Korea alarmed the world by successfully launching a multi-stage missile over Japan and into the Pacific Ocean. Nearly a year later, reports from the Korean peninsula indicated that North Korea was ready to launch an improved version of the missile, one capable of striking the continental United States. It became clear for the first time that North Korea could deliver a weapon of mass destruction not just to Seoul, but also to Seattle.
Responding to this crisis, House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert asked nine senior Members of Congress to form the North Korea Advisory Group and report to him on the North Korean threat to the United States and our allies.
The Speaker asked the Advisory Group to answer the question: "Does North Korea pose a greater threat to U.S. interests today than it did five years ago?"
A number of changes in the U.S. approach to North Korea have taken place over the past five years. In 1994, the Agreed Framework called for North Korea to halt its nuclear weapons development activity in exchange for two light-water nuclear reactors to be provided by an international consortium led by the United States, Japan and South Korea. Since then, North Korea has suffered from continuing economic decline, a three-year famine, the death of Kim Il Sung, and the accession to power of his son, Kim Jong Il.
The Advisory Group faced a number of hurdles in developing this report. North Korea is the most closed society in the world today. As the 1998 State Department Human Rights Report notes, "The Government prohibits freedom of speech, press, assembly, and association, and all forms of cultural and media activities are under the tight control of the party."
The Advisory Group relied on information already developed by the U.S. government and international agencies as well as new information supplied specifically for the Advisory Group by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) and the General Accounting Office (GAO), both of which are agencies of the legislative branch.
The Advisory Group held a number of briefings with administration officials, intelligence analysts and non-government experts on North Korea. Information from seven CRS reports and two GAO reports were incorporated into this final report. The group has also drawn on the considerable expertise of several congressional staff members.
Today, even though North Korea appears to be on the edge of economic and political collapse, it threatens American and allied interests. Under current policy, North Korea has become the largest recipient of United States foreign aid in Asia.
The Congress observed the growing gap between North Korea's threatening actions and the administration's representations that North Korea's behavior was accommodating key American interests. Accordingly, on October 19, 1998, the Congress passed H. R. 4328, the Fiscal Year 1999 Omnibus Appropriations Act (PL 105-277), mandating "a full and complete interagency review of United States policy toward North Korea." Section 582 (e) of that Act stated, "Not later than January 1, 1999, the President shall name a 'North Korea Policy Coordinator,' who shall conduct a full and complete interagency review of United States policy toward North Korea, shall provide policy direction for negotiations with North Korea related to nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and other security related issues, and shall also provide leadership for United States participation in KEDO." The President named former Secretary of Defense Dr. William Perry to that position. The creation of the position of "North Korea Policy Coordinator" was done at the insistence and instigation of the Congress.
This report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives analyzes key elements of North Korea's behavior since 1994 when the administration signed the Agreed Framework with North Korea. How North Korea has performed under the 1994 Agreed Framework is of great importance to the United States pursuant to the terms of the agreement itself, the United States and its allies are mandated to provide light water reactors to North Korea only if they are satisfied with North Korea's performance under the Agreed Framework.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Report follows in link...and if it is no longer there, I have it saved and will post it again. |
