The North Korean Threat

The recalcitrance, cruelty, and unpredictability of the Kim regime makes North Korea one of the toughest challenges we face on the global stage. The last three administrations, Democratic and Republican alike, have attempted to address the problem of North Korea's nuclear program. Unfortunately, very little progress has been made. Despite a long list of sanctions, North Korea is no closer to denuclearization today than it was several decades ago; rather, North Korea has continued to develop its nuclear, conventional and cyber capabilities at an alarming rate. North Korea's aspirations do not stop at conventional or even nuclear weapons. The Kim regime is wielding 21st century weapons as well, and has quietly developed an offensive cyber capability. Agents working for the North Korea regime vandalized, threatened and coerced a company operating in the United States. Let's remember that the greatest threat the regime in Pyongyang poses is to its own people. For years we have heard reports about the abuses endured by the people of North Korea, torture, starvation, forced labor and execution. A recent United Nations Commission of Inquiry report confirmed these reports, calling the North Korean regime responsible for systematic, widespread, and gross human rights violations, including what they said was crimes against humanity.