Johnson scolds Obama over North Korea
McKinney Courier Gazette
By Heather M. Smith, Staff writer
June 26, 2009
On Wednesday North Korea threatened to rid the world of the United States. It was the same day the Pentagon said it has not decided if it will make contact and request inspection of a suspected North Korean arms ship that the United States has been tracking for a week.
“The President’s failure to sternly address North Korea's provocative threat is extremely troubling. Added to the fact that the Democrats are cutting missile interceptors, I'm very, very concerned for the future of this country, the safety of our nation and the security of our homeland,” said Rep. Sam Johnson. “I think that the President comes across as lacking resolve. The Democrats in Congress look weak and that's not a good place for America to be in.”
The USS John S. McCain has trailed the Kang Nam Freighter since it left the North Korean port of Nampo. The ship is believed to be headed toward Myanmar, according to South Korean and U.S. officials. In the past, the ship was accused of transporting banned goods. If the ship is found to be carrying banned goods, it will be the first test of U.N. sanctions passed that placed an embargo on arms shipments from North Korea.
In order for the United States to inspect the suspicious cargo, it would have to seek permission, according to a new U.N. Security Council. North Korea said it would consider interception a declaration of war and accused the United States of seeking to provoke another Korean War.
“If the U.S. imperialists start another war, the army and people of Korea will ... wipe out the aggressors on the globe once and for all,” the official Korean Central News Agency said.
President Barack Obama says the United States is “prepared for any contingencies” involving North Korea — including the regime’s reported threat to launch a long-range missile toward Hawaii.
Japanese media reported that the North Koreans appear to be preparing for a long-range test near July 4. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered additional protections for Hawaii in case a missile is launched over the Pacific Ocean. North Korea is in possession of two long-range missiles, the Taepodong-1 and the Taepodong-2. The first can go 2,500 miles, but it’s never been successfully tested. The Taepondong-2 could go about 3,700 miles. However, both have failed its tests. There are 4,500 miles between Pyongyang and Honolulu.
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said now the question is how the United States will “meet the escalating challenge of a nuclear armed North Korea.” She said history shows only what will not work.
“Less than one week after Iran launched a ballistic missile capable of striking U.S. targets and allies, North Korea followed suit and raised the stakes by detonating an illicit nuclear device,” Hutchison said. “This aggressive act incited outrage across the globe, even drawing a strong rebuke from North Korea's traditional ally China.”
Hutchison criticized past efforts to make North Korea a non-nuclear country. She said former president Bill Clinton’s “Framework” was a reward for North Korea. Under Clinton’s agreement with the nation, it was guaranteed delivery of two energy-producing light-water nuclear reactors and 500,000 tons of fuel oil annually, if Pyongyang would halt operations at their nuclear facility in Yongbyon.
“At the time, President Clinton insisted it was the best agreement possible and preferable to war,” Hutchison said. “In a column I wrote in 1995, I raised concerns that this appeasement strategy bore insufficient safeguards and, by rewarding North Korea's bad behavior, we were sending a message that the United States would capitulate to nuclear blackmail.”
In 2006, North Korea revealed to the world that it had never terminated its nuclear program. The same year, it detonated its first nuclear device. Hutchison said that many experts believe that the 2006 test was technically flawed and fell short of the expectations of North Korean scientists, sending them back to the drawing board.
In April, North Korea launched a long-range rocket and then conducted its second underground atomic test on May 25.
“This month’s successful nuclear test, reportedly yielding a blast comparable to the bomb dropped on Nagasaki in 1945, has made it very clear that not only is North Korea’s nuclear program active, but it has made enough technical advancements to be truly dangerous,” Hutchison said. “This is an important part of North Korea’s strategy, which has been rapidly unfolding over the last five years.”
During the first half of 2009, North Korea has rejected the Obama Administration’s diplomatic offers, abandoned the six-party talks, ousted U.N. inspectors, resumed activity at Yongbyon nuclear facility and test launched as many as six missiles.
“Americans need to know that just as North Korea prepares to launch a missile aimed at American citizens in Hawaii, the Democrats slashed 19 missile interceptors from the Defense Department Budget,” Johnson said. “We're voting on that on Thursday.”
Hutchison said the new strategy to deal with North Korea must be multi-pronged. First, she said the U.S. needs to lead the way to punish North Korea. She said because the country heavily relies on Russia and China for trade, the two are in a unique position to pressure it.
The second part of her plan involves inspection and verification to ensure that North Korea has no nuclear weapons. We cannot declare our diplomatic efforts a success without verification, while North Korea continues to arm itself unabated, she said.
The final part of her plan is to fund a leading-edge missile-defense program.
“Above all, our missile defense strategy must send the unmistakable message that the U.S. is prepared to meet and defeat any escalation of arms,” Hutchison said. “North Korea and Iran have shown that they’re willing to use provocative tactics to raise international tension and to instigate conflict with nations across the globe. As the U.S., once again, grapples with these challenges, our policy must be resolute and rooted in the reality that these are hostile, unreasonable nations who wish to do us harm.”
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