Schatz Statement On North Korea Developments

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) issued the following statement after South Korean officials announced new developments with North Korea.

“History has taught us that we should be cautious and skeptical of North Korea. But this is a positive development, because as Winston Churchill put it, to jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war.

“Discussions should be met with action on both sides. North Korea must immediately freeze further development and testing of its ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons. The Trump Administration must stop all talk of a preemptive military strike, which would have catastrophic human and geopolitical consequences.

“Finally, we are on our fifteenth month without an ambassador in Seoul. We cannot go another month without an experienced, high-level American diplomat on the Korean Peninsula. This position will make sure we are leading the discussion on the ground and that whatever happens next strengthens the trilateral U.S.-Japan-Republic of Korea alliance.”

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