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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today urged President Trump to form a joint commission and intensify America’s regional diplomatic strategy in order to effectively deal with North Korea. This week, Trump departs for a 12-day tour of Asia, visiting five countries.

“Given North Korea’s increasingly provocative behavior this year, preventing North Korea from continuing its bellicose activities, including the proliferation of illegal nuclear weapons needs to be a top priority for the United States and our allies,” DelBene wrote in a letter to Trump ahead of his trip to Asia. “I strongly urge you to support the establishment of a formal joint commission, as outlined in my bill. It is in the interest of the United States to remain the security partner of choice for allies and partners in the Indo-Asia Pacific region and to strengthen norms based on the international order that has guided peace and stability in the region since the end of World War II.”

Earlier this year, DelBene introduced H.R. 2231, which establishes a Joint Commission on North Korea, and would include government officials from the United States, Japan and South Korea, among others in the Indo-Asia Pacific Region, as a diplomatic effort to stop North Korea’s hostile actions.

Text of DelBene’s letter follows:

Dear Mr. President,

Ahead of your trip to the Asia-Pacific region, I urge you and your Administration to strengthen the diplomatic and security ties between the United States and regional allies like South Korea and Japan.

Given North Korea’s increasingly provocative behavior this year, preventing North Korea from continuing its bellicose activities, including the proliferation of illegal nuclear weapons needs to be a top priority for the United States and our allies. North Korea is already violating the letter and spirit of numerous United Nations Security Council resolutions and continues to demonstrate a wanton desire to explore further provocative, destabilizing military action.

Strengthening high-level dialogues on North Korean nuclear proliferation between the United States, regional partners, and the United Nations would bring needed and heightened attention to the issue. The United States would benefit from a comprehensive strategy, jointly implemented with its regional partners, including China, to prevent North Korea from becoming armed with nuclear weapons and strengthen the shared goal of achieving a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. Through this kind of dialogue, we could better coordinate sanctions enforcement, detect North Korean proliferation activities, and prepare contingency responses. That is why I introduced a bill – HR 2231 – that would authorize the State Department to establish a joint commission with countries in the Indo-Asia Pacific region.

The United States, along with its allies and partners, have highly capable military and nuclear experts who can refine plans to respond to potentially dangerous North Korean developments and could recommend defensive measures to address any vulnerabilities. I strongly urge you to support the establishment of a formal joint commission, as outlined in my bill. It is in the interest of the United States to remain the security partner of choice for allies and partners in the Indo-Asia Pacific region and to strengthen norms based on the international order that has guided peace and stability in the region since the end of World War II.

Sincerely,

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