April 24, 2013

NCNK has released a revised version of its issue brief examining the history and status of North Korea's ballistic missile program. The revised brief includes a discussion of recent developments in North Korea's missile capabilities, as well as an overview of the country's arsenal and a review of U.S.-DPRK missile negotiations. 

North Korea’s development and international sales of ballistic missiles have long been seen by the United States and its allies in East Asia as a major security threat and source of regional instability, and developments in North Korea since Kim Jong-un’s assumption of power demonstrate a renewed focus on advancing its missile capabilities. The DPRK has deployed an estimated 600 short-range ballistic missiles capable of striking parts or all of South Korea, and perhaps 150-200 medium-range Nodong missiles which could potentially reach Japan. North Korea has also developed several intermediate-range or intercontinental ballistic missiles, although it is not certain if any of these missiles are currently deployed or operational. These missiles include the Taepodong-1 and -2, tests of which have triggered strong international reaction, as well as the Musudan and road-mobile KN-08 missiles, which have not been flight-tested by the DPRK.

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March 11, 2013

Appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last Thursday, Special Representative for North Korea Policy Glyn Davies testified on the U.S. and international responses to North Korea's recent nuclear and missile tests. He emphasized that the U.S. would continue a two-track policy combining "openness to dialogue when possible," with "sustained, robust pressure through sanctions when necessary." Davies said that China remained central to altering North Korea's policies, and that diplomacy with China in this regard would be a "key locus" of U.S. efforts to put additional pressure on North Korea.

Davies also discussed human rights in North Korea, emphasizing U.S. support for an in-depth inquiry from the UN Human Rights Council. "How the DPRK addresses human rights will have a significant impact on prospects for improved U.S.-DPRK ties," he added. In response to questions from Senator Ben Cardin (D-MA), Davies said that it was important to "clear the path" for U.S. NGOs providing humanitarian assistance to North Koreans, and that he had confidence in their abilities to deliver adequately-monitored food aid if the U.S. were to resume such programs.

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March 5, 2013

On Wednesday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on North Korea's international criminal activities and regime financing, investigating ways to increase financial pressure on the country in response to its recent missile and nuclear tests.

Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) argued in his opening statement that the U.S. must do more to respond to North Korea's international activities, such as missile sales, drug trafficking, and counterfeiting U.S. currency. He said that the purpose of the hearing was to find ways to pressure North Korea's ruling elite by restricting their access to hard currency, and that he planned to introduce legislation based on some of the ideas generated in the hearing. In his statement, Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY) added that he wanted to examine whether such efforts could be used to pressure North Korea into abandoning its nuclear and missile programs.

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February 14, 2013

In the wake of North Korea’s third nuclear test earlier this week, several members of Congress have introduced bills and resolutions regarding U.S. policy toward North Korea. While still in a preliminary stage in the process of advancing through Congress, these bills and resolutions may indicate what the 113^th Congress’ attitudes and policies toward North Korea will be.

In the Senate, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) introduced S. 298, The North Korea Non-proliferation and Accountability Act of 2013, with seven co-sponsors. The bill would give the Sense of Congress that the U.S. government should seek new UN Security Council sanctions, enhance military cooperation with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and secure the agreement of the UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly to establish an inquiry mechanism to investigate North Korean violations of human rights. The bill would also require the Secretary of State to conduct an interagency review of U.S. policy toward North Korea, reporting to Congress on recommendations for new legislation and administrative actions. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is meeting on Thursday to review the legislation and possibly modify it.

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February 9, 2013

A recent booklet published by South Korea's Civil Peace Forum and the Friedrich Ebert foundations reviews the activities of NGOs working in inter-Korean cooperation and aid in 2012, giving some insight into the thinking of the South Korean left on the eve of Park Geun-hye's inauguration.

The booklet's chapter on inter-Korean humanitarian assistance, written by Lee Woon-ik of the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, traces the decline in humanitarian assistance from South Korean NGOs to the North under the Lee Myung-bak administration, and provides an outline for how such activities should move forward in 2013. Lee says that promises to separate humanitarian and political issues under the next president are encouraging, but that South Korean public opinion and difficulties in inter-Korean relations could put new humanitarian efforts at risk.

The report emphasizes the need to separate humanitarian aid from politics, and looks for ways to increase its effectiveness and broaden the base of support in South Korea for such activities. It calls for NGOs to respond effectively to criticism over the lack of transparency in the provision of aid, and for them to expand beyond providing emergency support into fields such as agriculture, medicine, and forestation in order prevent North Koreans' dependency on aid.

The report calls for the South Korean government to lifts the May 24 measures, which have limited NGOs from providing humanitarian aid or participating in inter-Korean exchanges, and to build a cooperative relationship between the public and private sectors in formulating humanitarian activities. It also calls for South Korean NGOs to increase their collaboration with international organizations in order to build their capacity.

February 5, 2013

The 2013 Farm Bill, as introduced into the Senate last month by Majority Leader Harry Reid, would include a provision prohibiting the U.S. from providing food aid to North Korea unless the President issues a waiver certifying to Congress that such aid is "in the national interest of the United States."

During the last Congress, the Senate passed a Farm Bill which included an amendment similarly prohibiting food aid to North Korea without a Presidential waiver. The amendment was introduced by Senator John Kerry, and competed against an unsuccessful amendment offered by Senator Jon Kyl, which would have similarly prohibited food aid to North Korea but which would not have offered a waiver. The Farm Bill was not passed by the House, and Congress ultimately approved a nine-month extension of the previous Farm Bill as part of its "fiscal cliff" deal.

The new Farm Bill introduced by Reid is nearly identical to the version passed by the Senate last year. In a statement, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow said that she is "committed to convening a Committee mark up as soon as possible, to produce an updated version of the Farm Bill, which could then be substituted for Majority Leader Reid’s placeholder bill." The House has yet to introduce a Farm Bill for this session of Congress.

The Farm Bill sets policy for five years; if passed with the section on North Korea intact, it would prohibit U.S. food aid to North Korea without a presidential waiver through 2018.