NORTH KOREA and the US

From May 30 to June 2, Congressman Curt Weldon (R, PA) led a bipartisan congressional delegation composed of six Members of the House of Representatives to Pyongyang, North Korea (Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea/DPRK). The delegation included Solomon Ortiz (D-TX), Silvestre Reyes (D-TX), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Jeff Miller (R-FL) and Eliot Engel (D-NY). The delegation was the largest congressional delegation to visit the DPRK and the first to visit the DPRK in five years. The visit occurred during a period of escalating tensions between the DPRK, the United States, and nations of the region resulting from the DPRK October, 2002, admission of its nuclear weapons-related uranium enrichment program. Subsequent DPRK withdrawal from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT); confirmation of its possession of nuclear weapons; expelling of IAEA inspectors; declared intentions to reprocess its spent fuel; continued sales of missiles and technology to terrorist nations; and allegations of nation-sponsored drug trafficking all served to further raise tensions between the DPRK and the international community.

I do not know who was behind this initiative. It presumably had the blessing of the White House. A Senate delegation would have had more prestige and more power, since the Senate must confirm treaties. Perhaps it was decided to send a delegation from the lower house to test the waters. Such visits are more commonly made by member of the lower house. We await the formal report from the delegation. Its proposals may just die without causing President Bush any embarrassment. In dealing with Iran, the second member of the Axis of Evil, the US says it does not seek a regime change, meaning a purge like that which has occurred in Iraq. However, looking at Iraq, the North Korean government is convinced that the US seeks a regime change. i.e. getting rid of them and possibly trying them as war criminals. The instinct of self-preservation will make them obsurate.

Ronald Hilton - 6/27/03