As I begin writing this week’s blog, I’m at the DMZ (the Demilitarized Zone) between North and South Korea. (One of the Air Force officers who briefed us said the term “Demilitarized Zone” is a misnomer, since it is actually the most highly militarized border on earth.)
I’m here in my capacity as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. Tension in this part of the world has increased dramatically in recent months as a result of the bellicose rantings and threats from North Korea’s young, irresponsible, and potentially dangerous leader, Kim Jong-un. He has threatened a nuclear strike on the United States (which he may or may not have the ability to deliver at this time.)
First, some history. Approximately 30 thousand U.S. troops gave their lives during the Korean War which ended in 1953, the year I was born. In fact, this year marks the 60th anniversary of the end of that war, although an official peace treaty was never actually signed.
Communist North Korea, probably the most repressive regime on earth, has long been ruled with an iron fist by three succeeding generations of brutal dictators: Kim Il Sung, then Kim Jong-il, and for a little more than a year now, by the 29-year-old grandson, Kim Jong-un. Un may be even more crazy, and more dangerous, than either his father or his grandfather.
The U.S. and our United Nations allies have been utilizing sticks (tighter and tighter sanctions) and carrots (food and fuel) in an attempt to convince North Korea to back off its nuclear program for years now. Neither has worked.
Unlike Iran, which is likely on the threshold of acquiring a nuclear CAPABILITY, North Korea actually HAS nuclear weapons (probably a dozen or so.) In complete defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions, North Korea has test-fired a number of nuclear weapons, and is attempting to develop an inter-continental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the United States. Our allies, South Korea and Japan, are already within their delivery range.
Although Kim Jong-un’s provocative threats are disturbing, and particularly unsettling if you live in this part of the world, I believe he is highly unlikely to use nuclear weapons against the United States, or against any of our allies under the U.S. protective “nuclear umbrella.” He knows that if he should utilize his stockpile of nuclear weapons, or even conventional weapons, the United States will respond with overwhelming force, and his regime is over. He and his crony gang of elites have as their number one priority the survival of the regime and their grip on power, and I don’t think they’ll risk it all in a suicidal strike on the United States. (I wouldn’t say the same for Iran, or other radical Jihadists in the Middle East.)
SOUTH Korea is a much brighter story. They have been a close and reliable ally of the United States for more than 60 years now. South Korea’s new President, Park Guen-Hye, will be meeting with President Obama in Washington next week. She will also address a joint session of Congress the following day.
I had the honor of meeting with President Park for approximately an hour in Seoul two days ago. She is Korea’s first woman president, and currently the only female head of state in all of Asia. She has a rather tragic history. Her mother was killed in a 1974 failed assassination attempt against her husband, the President of Korea; and her father was assassinated five years later in the 18th year of his Presidency.
We discussed a wide range of issues, including U.S./Korean defense issues, potential arms sales from the United States to Korea (which would boost American jobs), trade between our two countries (especially in light of the Free Trade Agreement that was ratified approximately a year ago – which I voted for), Korean importation of Iranian oil (which we would like to stop, as it weakens our sanctions effort against Iran), and her upcoming visit to the United States.
Also while in Korea, I met with the Korean Foreign Minister, Yun Byung-se (who is comparable to our Secretary of State), General James Thurman, who is in charge of all 28,500 U.S. troops in Korea, U.S. embassy personnel in Seoul, and with our troops in the DMZ.
I am accompanied on this fact finding mission by the top Democrat leader on the Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega of American Samoa. We will be leaving South Korea later today for Japan, and then Taiwan, before heading back to the United States.
As always, thanks for taking the time to read my blog. See you next week.
