NORTH KOREA

SEC. 525. NORTH KOREA (a) Findings.— (1) President Clinton stated in November 1993 that it is the official policy of the United States that North Korea cannot be allowed to become a nuclear power. (2) The United States seeks to persuade North Korea, through negotiations, the imposition of sanctions, or other means, to act in accordance with its freely undertaken obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to abandon its efforts to develop nuclear weapons. (3) North Korea has repeatedly threatened to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, has resisted efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency to conduct effective inspections of its nuclear program, and has stated that it would consider the imposition of economic sanctions as an act of war and has threatened retaliatory action. (4) The North Korean Government has constructed and has operated a reprocessing facility at Yongbyon solely designed to convert spent nuclear fuel into plutonium with which to make nuclear weapons. Further, the existence of this facility and the development of these weapons gravely threaten security in the region and increases the likelihood of worldwide nuclear terrorism. 108 STAT. 1604 (5) The Secretary of Defense stated that the United States must act on the assumption that there will be some increase in the risk of war if sanctions are imposed on North Korea. (6) It is incumbent on the United States to take all necessary and prudent action to act together with the Republic of Korea to ensure the preparedness of United States and Republic of Korea forces to repel as quickly as possible any attack from North Korea and to protect the safety and security of United States and Republic of Korea forces, as well as the safety and security of the civilian population of the peninsula. (b) Sense of the Senate.— It is the sense of the Senate that the United States should immediately take all necessary and prudent actions to enhance the preparedness and safety of United States forces and urge and assist the Republic of Korea to do likewise in order to deter and, if necessary, repel an attack from North Korea.