Reiterates call for coercive diplomacy to end nuclear program

Washington (March 6, 2017) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee East Asia subcommittee, condemned North Korea’s test of four ballistic missiles, which Pyongyang fired into the Sea of Japan in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. Last week, Senators Markey and Al Franken (D-Minn.) urged President Trump to engage in diplomacy backed by sanctions and deterrence to halt and eventually roll back North Korea’s nuclear program.

“North Korea’s latest missile test is an unacceptable threat to our allies in East Asia and an unmistakable signal that our existing policy toward the Kim regime has failed to halt its nuclear ambitions. If President Trump hopes to prevent North Korea from acquiring nuclear weapons that can strike the United States, he must strengthen enforcement of existing sanctions, while simultaneously engaging Pyongyang to resume talks on denuclearization. The United States must also unequivocally affirm that we will defend our allies against any threats to their security from North Korea’s provocative and destabilizing actions.”

Last year alone, Pyongyang tested two nuclear devices and carried out multiple ballistic missile tests. In recent months, it has threatened to accelerate its effort to develop a long-range missile capable of delivering a nuclear payload to the territory of the United States. Last month, North Korea conducted another missile test, this time a solid-fueled medium-range, mobile system.