12 June 2001

Bereuter Advises Bush Administration on N. Korea Policy

The Bush administration should tell North Korea's rulers "the cycle of extortion for their good behavior is over," according to Representative Doug Bereuter (Republican of Nebraska).

Bereuter, the vice chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, gave that advice in a June 12 speech in the House of Representatives.

The Nebraska Republican, who also is chairman of that panel's subcommittee on Intelligence Policy and National Security and vice chairman of its subcommittee on Human Intelligence Analysis, and Counterintelligence, noted that while Pyongyang had "finally" agreed to a moratorium on missile flight tests, it still continues to "develop and produce ballistic missiles," some of which "are now capable of reaching the United States."

In the past administration, he continued, the United States seemed to "tolerate North Korean misbehavior and demands for tribute."

The United States in recent years has provided the Pyongyang regime with "heavy fuel oil and humanitarian food aid in increasing quantities," Bereuter said.

Bereuter, a former long-time member of the House International Relations Committee who also serves as chairman of the House Financial Services subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade, said extortion was "an outrageous violation of the American heritage, and we will not continue it."

Bereuter also warned the Bush administration not to succumb to Pyongyang's efforts "to drive a wedge between the United States and South Korea or to denigrate the legitimacy of the government of South Korea."

Following is the text of Bereuter's remarks:

American Foreign Policy On North Korea
House of Representatives
June 12, 2001

Mr. Bereuter: Mr. Speaker, there was a range of interesting reactions to the Bush administration's statements last week that they were willing to resume talks with the government of North Korea, the DPRK, some suggesting this was a reversal of policy, perhaps a return to the North Korean foreign policy of the Clinton administration. Rather, the last 4- to 5-month period should be recognized as an appropriate pause in our intensive contacts with North Korea to reexamine the goals, tactics, achievements, and failures of American policy toward North Korea.

During the last few years, there have been substantial and growing congressional concerns, especially among Republicans, over the Clinton administration's North Korea policy. North Korea is arguably the most dangerous and erratic nation in Asia, perhaps the world, with a ruling clique that is intent on surviving even at any cost to its people. Indeed, their policies have killed huge numbers of their people through starvation. I believe it remains the place where there is the greatest chance of U.S. troops becoming militarily engaged in a terrible conflict. The DPRK continues to forward-deploy a 1.2 million-man army.

While finally agreeing to an indefinitely defined moratorium on missile flight tests, North Korea continues to develop and produce ballistic missiles, some of which are now capable of reaching the United States. In addition, there are certain indications that the DPRK may be maintaining a covert nuclear program.

Economically and socially, the "Hermit Kingdom" has come to the crossroads and must decide whether it continues on its path towards oblivion or whether it wants to dramatically reform its conduct and join the community of responsible nations. Logically, the United States should be in a position to significantly influence the DPRK's behavior. Instead, however, we find ourselves in a position where over the last few years North Korea has consistently been rewarded for outrageous behavior or for threatening such conduct. North Korean behavior resembles that of the 18th century Barbary pirates, demanding ever-increasing levels of tribute from America, and some of its neighbors, in return for marginally tolerable behavior.

Overall, the preceding administration seemed too willing to tolerate North Korean misbehavior and demands for tribute. The United States has provided heavy fuel oil and humanitarian food aid in increasing quantities. Quietly, escaping the notice of the American people, North Korea became the largest recipient of foreign aid in Asia, although humanitarian aid was given through indirect means. Despite that level of assistance, we are prevented now from adequately monitoring the distribution of that assistance, even though there is a very high probability of aid diversions to the North Korean military.

Mr. Speaker, as the Bush administration stands poised and ready to reengage North Korea in discussions, if there is any sign such talks would be productive, it needs to be mindful of the need to let the North Koreans know in no uncertain terms that the cycle of extortion for their good behavior is over. Pay tribute or extortion is an outrageous violation of the American heritage, and we will not continue it. We will not pay, directly or indirectly, for what the North Koreans should do to improve their own plight: live on the Korean Peninsula peacefully with their neighbors to the south; end its tactics of terrorism, weapons proliferation, and blackmail; sign a peace treaty to finally end the Korean War; and give evidence that it wants to build a positive relationship with the United States and the international community.

Finally, Bush administration contacts with North Korea should be much more careful than the Clinton administration to closely involve the South Koreans, the Republic of Korea, in those talks directly or as closely as possible. We must not succumb to the old North Korean strategy to drive a wedge between the United States and South Korea or to denigrate the legitimacy of the government of South Korea.

Mr. Speaker, that is my advice, gratuitous though it is, to the Bush administration. We need to change our policy.