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Wednesday, July 5, 2006
NELSON: US, WORLD NOT INTIMIDATED BY NORTH KOREA MISSILE TESTS

Nebraska's Senator Again Calls for Engagement with Rogue Nation and Additional Sanctions

The United States and the world community will not be intimidated by missile testing conducted by North Korea, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson said Wednesday.

Nelson, who in 2003 had proposed a simultaneous model for engagement in diplomatic negotiations with North Korea, also said the U.S. must step up efforts to engage North Korea diplomatically even beyond the current "six party talks."

"We need to demonstrate to North Korea that we are not intimidated and that their aggression will not be tolerated," said Senator Nelson. "After appointing a senior North Korea adviser, the United States along with Japan and China should agree to support additional sanctions against the North Koreans."

The Senate included in the recently passed defense authorization bill language requiring the President to appoint a senior presidential envoy to act as coordinator of United States policy on North Korea.

"Only by being isolated and pressured, especially by China, will the regime in North Korea consider returning to the six party talks,” said Nelson.

In February of 2003, after returning from a trip to the region and meeting with leaders there, Nelson wrote then Secretary of State Powell that we should have direct talks with North Korea. At the time, Nelson suggested North Korea agree to freeze their nuclear program and allow IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) inspectors back into their country to verify this action; the U.S. would simultaneously agree not to attack North Korea or call for economic sanctions in order for bilateral talks to begin.

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