Ackerman: Put North Korea back on terrorism list
Source: politico
Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has asked Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to put North Korea back on the list of countries that sponsor terrorism.
The request comes as South Korea briefed diplomats today on the findings of an investigation into the sinking of the South Korean naval vessel, the Cheonan, in which 46 South Korean sailors died. Reports said the investigation implicated North Korea in launching the torpedo that sank the vessel in March.
"As the recent sinking of the Republic of Korea warship Cheonan has demonstrated, North Korea is, in fact, intent on pursuing the opposite policy of ours, namely, undermining peace and increasing tensions in northeast Asia," Ackerman wrote Clinton in a letter.
"The apparently unprovoked sneak attack on the Cheonan, by North Korea, and the murder of 46 Republic of Korea sailors sailing in home waters, is a clear potential causus belli, and unquestionably the most belligerent and provocative incident since the 1953 armistice was established," he continued.
Ackerman, chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, also said Pyongyang's sales of ballistic missiles, artillery rockets and conventional arms to Hamas and Hezbollah warrant returning it to the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.
The Bush administration removed North Korea from the list in 2008.
Clinton departs tomorrow on a trip to Japan, South Korea and China where the issue will be discussed.
One Asia expert suggested that there may be a connection between Beijing's nod for the Iran sanctions resolution the U.S. circulated to the full Security Council yesterday, and Beijing's preference that the Cheonan incident be handled trilaterally in the region, and not be elevated to the UN.
“Beijing’s role here is key," the Council on Foreign Relations' Sheila Smith said. "South Koreans are already deeply angry at what they perceive as Chinese indifference to the North Korean behavior and the loss of South Korean lives. The intersection of these two issues on Secretary Clinton’s trip is vitally important, and this [Iran sanctions] announcement [Tuesday] suggests to me that she will pursue the Iran discussion at the U.N., while managing the response to what is likely to be declared as North Korean aggression” at the regional level.
Ackerman's full letter before the jump.
Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has asked Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to put North Korea back on the list of countries that sponsor terrorism.
The request comes as South Korea briefed diplomats today on the findings of an investigation into the sinking of the South Korean naval vessel, the Cheonan, in which 46 South Korean sailors died. Reports said the investigation implicated North Korea in launching the torpedo that sank the vessel in March.
"As the recent sinking of the Republic of Korea warship Cheonan has demonstrated, North Korea is, in fact, intent on pursuing the opposite policy of ours, namely, undermining peace and increasing tensions in northeast Asia," Ackerman wrote Clinton in a letter.
"The apparently unprovoked sneak attack on the Cheonan, by North Korea, and the murder of 46 Republic of Korea sailors sailing in home waters, is a clear potential causus belli, and unquestionably the most belligerent and provocative incident since the 1953 armistice was established," he continued.
Ackerman, chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, also said Pyongyang's sales of ballistic missiles, artillery rockets and conventional arms to Hamas and Hezbollah warrant returning it to the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.
The Bush administration removed North Korea from the list in 2008.
Clinton departs tomorrow on a trip to Japan, South Korea and China where the issue will be discussed.
One Asia expert suggested that there may be a connection between Beijing's nod for the Iran sanctions resolution the U.S. circulated to the full Security Council yesterday, and Beijing's preference that the Cheonan incident be handled trilaterally in the region, and not be elevated to the UN.
“Beijing’s role here is key," the Council on Foreign Relations' Sheila Smith said. "South Koreans are already deeply angry at what they perceive as Chinese indifference to the North Korean behavior and the loss of South Korean lives. The intersection of these two issues on Secretary Clinton’s trip is vitally important, and this [Iran sanctions] announcement [Tuesday] suggests to me that she will pursue the Iran discussion at the U.N., while managing the response to what is likely to be declared as North Korean aggression” at the regional level.
Ackerman's full letter before the jump.
The Honorable Hilary Rodham Clinton
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC
Dear Madam Secretary:
I write to ask for your prompt consideration of relisting North Korea as a state sponsor of terror. As you know, the Bush Administration, to demonstrate good faith on the part of the United States, decided in October 2008 to remove North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. I don’t wish to revisit that decision except to point out that it was taken in a particular political context relating to promoting peace and stability in northeast Asia.
As the recent sinking of the Republic of Korea warship Cheonan has demonstrated, North Korea is, in fact, intent on pursuing the opposite policy of ours, namely, undermining peace and increasing tensions in northeast Asia. The apparently unprovoked sneak attack on the Cheonan, by North Korea, and the murder of 46 Republic of Korea sailors sailing in home waters, is a clear potential causus belli, and unquestionably the most belligerent and provocative incident since the 1953 armistice was established.
Moreover, recent public reports strongly indicate North Korea is not content to merely destabilize its own region. Through the sales of ballistic missiles, artillery rockets and conventional arms to Hamas and Hezbollah, State Department-designated foreign terrorist organizations, Pyongyang is fueling two additional potentially disastrous confrontations. While the United States is aggressively working to pursue Arab-Israeli peace, North Korea is distributing the equivalent of matches and gasoline to known arsonists.
These intolerable actions necessitate a strong U.S. response, both to demonstrate our will and capability to counter and punish this illegitimate behavior, and to prove to our allies in northeast Asia and the Middle East that the United States remains a vigilant guardian of international peace and security.
There is more than ample reason to relist North Korea as a state sponsor of terror, pursuant to section 6(j) of the Export Administration Act, section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act, and section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act. I urge you to take this step without delay or hesitation.
I look forward to working with you to strengthen our cooperation with both the Republic of Korea and the State of Israel, who have been the chief victims of North Korea’s recent illicit and dangerous behavior.
Sincerely,
s/GARY L. ACKERMAN
Chairman,
House Subcommittee on the
Middle East and South Asia
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