Bush Called to Act on $25m as North Korea Tests Missiles
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Washington, D.C. – A new series of North Korean missile tests highlight the need to move forward on the February 2007 nuclear agreement, experts at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation said today.
North Korea fired two missiles into the North Korean waters of the Yellow Sea earlier today. They are believed to be ground-to-ship or ship-to-ship missiles with a range of about 62.5 miles. North Korea also tested short-range missiles on May 25, nearly a year after its last medium- and long-range missile tests. JOHN ISAACS, Executive Director at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, noted: “So far cooler heads have prevailed and the Bush Administration has not overreacted to these tests. We must maintain our sense of urgency and deal responsibly with North Korea.” The February 2007 nuclear agreement commits North Korea to disable its nuclear reactors. The agreement has been stalled by the delayed release of $25 million in frozen North Korean assets from a Macau bank. LEONOR TOMERO, Director of Nuclear Non-Proliferation at the Center, stated: “Banking technicalities must not thwart our opportunity to have North Korea permanently dismantle its nuclear and missile programs. The Bush Administration is stalling the release of chump change Pyongyang needs to dismantle its reactors.” LT. GENERAL ROBERT GARD (USA, Ret.), Senior Military Fellow at the Center, added: “North Korea’s nuclear program and missiles continue to threaten South Korea and Japan. The Bush Administration’s foot-dragging risks having Japan reconsider its long-standing abstention from nuclear weaponization.” Founded in 1980, the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation is a leading advocate for prudent measures to prevent the spread of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. |
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