Washington (October 2, 2018) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the East Asia Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement about Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s upcoming travel to North Korea on October 7.

“I welcome and continue to support the Trump administration’s direct engagement with North Korea, but engagement must not be confused with diplomacy.” said Senator Markey. “The most recent period has had too many photo ops and too few details. Diplomacy must include a clear, considered, and coordinated strategy drawing upon the full range of U.S. government expertise and capabilities. This is the only way for the Trump administration to ensure it does not squander what could be an historic opportunity to peacefully resolve our differences with North Korea.”

“Secretary Pompeo still has not explained a coherent strategy to the American people or to Congress. I call on him to brief members before and after his trip, an obligation he has promised, but has not yet delivered. Congress is a co-equal branch of government and the administration will require its full participation, including through wielding strong sanctions that help change regime behavior. Further, an issue this complicated will not be solved with ill-defined promises of things to come. The Trump administration must appoint a group of empowered technical experts from Treasury, State, and Energy to turn vague commitments into significant progress toward the objective we seek – a peacefully denuclearized North Korea.”

“North Korea continues to produce nuclear material and ballistic missiles. The Trump administration owes it to America and to our allies and partners to effectively test whether Kim Jong Un is finally ready to throw away the old family playbook.”

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