June 12, 2018

Castro Statement on Singapore Summit

WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today made the following statement:

“Just a few months ago, President Trump engaged in a war of words on Twitter with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Diplomacy is preferable to the path we were previously on, and the Singapore summit marked a shift away from war towards possible dismantlement of North Korea’s Weapons of Mass Destruction program.

“But unfortunately in its current form, the established agreement falls short. It lacks any detailed framework and timeline for the Administration’s previously stated goal of complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement of North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and lacks any mention of their abysmal human rights record. Furthermore, the United States’ treaty commitments with South Korea and Japan cannot and should not be whimsically negotiated away, as the President has done by pledging to halt joint military exercises with our allies.

“President Trump should press North Korea for specifics on dismantlement with verification just as strong—if not stronger—than what was required under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and Secretary Pompeo should provide those details to Congress immediately. The Administration should also marshal as much regional and international support and consensus for such diplomacy, and swiftly nominate key diplomatic posts to carry these negotiations forward at the State Department. In Congress, we must also work to confirm these appointments and refrain from lifting any sanctions on Pyongyang until we see complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement has taken effect. 

“We must be clear and transparent about the concessions we make while also maintaining leverage to achieve the stated goal of complete, verifiable, irreversible dismantlement of North Korea’s nuclear and missile capability. We must forge ahead on a timeline and with specific details of North Korea’s dismantlement in order to bring lasting peace to the Peninsula.”

# # #