Senator Kyl and Rep. Tauscher on North Korean Missile Launch
Representatives Jon Kyl and Ellen Tauscher both condemned North Korea’s missile launch. Kyl said (excerpted):
“This launch is yet another reckless display by one of the world’s most brutal and dictatorial regimes. It makes clear that the North Koreans are investing significant resources and effort to advance the capability of their missile systems.
“Clearly, missile defenses against threats from rogue regimes are more important than ever, and I urge the Obama administration to fully fund the Missile Defense Agency this year.
“North Korea is the world’s most prolific proliferator of ballistic missile technology so we should also be concerned about reports that Iranian technicians and observers were present in North Korea for this launch.”
In a joint statement with Representative Ike Skelton, Tauscher said (excerpted):
“We call on North Korea to cease any further ballistic missile launches and return to the Six-Party talks without any preconditions. We will support President Obama’s efforts to work with the international community to appropriately address North Korea’s actions.
“North Korea’s ballistic missile capability is a threat to the United States, our deployed forces, and our friends and allies in the region.
“The House Armed Services Committee has worked for many years to ensure that we have fully funded critical near-term missile defense systems, such as the existing Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, based in Alaska and California, the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system, and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system.”
Conspicuously absent in both statements is any mention of ground missile defense in Europe, specifically, the urgent need to move forward on our agreements to build missile defense shields in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Tags: Ellen Tauscher, Jon Kyl, North Korea