Senat

Recent Developments in North Korea. Hearing September 10 1998

1998 · rif. 47953 — Washington DC: GPO 1998. Presumed First Edition First Printing. Wraps. good. iii 1 32 pages. Wraps.S. Hrg. 105-842. From the Chairman's opening remarks: I have been chairman of this Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs for almost 4 years now. During that time the sub-committee has held more meetings on North Korea than any other single country other than China. In fact our last hearing was on North Korea. In that time I guess I could say that I continue to be amazed and concerned by the unpredictable and unbalanced nature of the regime in Pyongyang. Despite widespread starvation and disease the government continues to adhere the very economic policies that have led to this condition in the first place. Despite worldwide repudiation of communism the government continues to revolve around a Stalinist cult of personality devoted to Kim Jong-il. Despite international norms and conventions the DPRK continues to sell nuclear and conventional missile technology to rogue nations such as Iraq and Libya in violation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. In spite of the terms of the agreed nuclear framework with the United States there continues in North Korea to be developed a program aimed at producing nuclear materials or at least that is apparently the case. Every month brings a new surprise. This month has been no exception. On the 31st of August North Korea fired a two-stage missile through Japanese airspace. Although un- certain at first I understand now that NASA believes the launch placed a satellite albeit apparently a nonfunctional one into orbit. But it seems to me that there are additional motives for the launch. First it was certainly to impress potential weapons buyers by forcefully announcing the availability of a new product. Second it was meant to underscore the elevation of Kim Jong-il to his newest post and the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the DPRK. Finally to up the ante on its outgoing Four Party Talks and the KEDO negotiations. GPO paperback