战略与国际研究中心-Hill-Statements-on-the-Cheonan-Incident-and-North-Korea_5页_277kb

Summary of Hill Statements on the Cheonan Incident and North Korea

Core Content

The Cheonan incident, the sinking of the South Korean naval ship ROKS Cheonan on March 26, 2010, which resulted in the deaths of 46 sailors, prompted strong reactions from U.S. politicians across both the House and Senate. The statements reflect a unified stance in condemning North Korea's actions and calling for a coordinated international response.

Main Views and Key Information

Condemnation of North Korea's Actions

• Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS): Strongly condemned the attack, stating that North Korea must be held responsible and urged the U.S. to re-list it as a state sponsor of terrorism and impose immediate, multi-lateral sanctions.
• Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK): Called the sinking an act of war and criticized North Korea's "perverted logic" in the face of clear evidence.
• Sen. John Kerry (D-MA): Emphasized the need for the international community to speak with one voice and call on North Korea to accept responsibility and make reparations.
• Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI): Condemned the attack in the strongest terms and expressed sympathy for the families of the victims.
• Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT): Framed the incident as a test of whether a rogue regime could attack a U.S. democratic ally with impunity.
• Sen. John McCain (R-AZ): Supported the evidence presented by South Korea and called for a serious and immediate response, specifically urging China to act more responsibly.
• Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA): Stressed the importance of the U.S. working with South Korea and the international community to develop an appropriate response to North Korea's aggression.

Call for International Action and Sanctions

• Del. Eni Faleomavaega (D-Guam): Viewed the incident as the worst military provocation since the Korean War and called for North Korea to return to the bargaining table.
• Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA): Advocated for U.S. support of South Korea's efforts to present evidence to the U.N. Security Council and urged China to take a clear stance against North Korea's actions.
• Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY): Urged the U.S. to relist North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism, citing the political context of the previous removal under the Bush Administration.
• Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL): Argued that relisting North Korea would signal the gravity of the threat to South Korean allies and prevent North Korea from acting with impunity.

Key Points of Agreement

• All statements unequivocally condemned the sinking of the Cheonan as a hostile and provocative act by North Korea.
• There was a consensus on the need for international solidarity with South Korea.
• Many senators and representatives emphasized the importance of imposing sanctions and taking a firm stance against North Korea's aggression.
• The U.S. was called upon to support South Korea in seeking justice and to work with allies to ensure regional stability and security.

Conclusion

The Hill statements collectively underscore the gravity of the Cheonan incident and the shared concern among U.S. legislators regarding North Korea's aggressive behavior. They highlight the need for a unified international response, increased sanctions, and a clear message that North Korea will not act with impunity. The statements also reflect the strategic importance of South Korea as a U.S. ally and the role of the U.S. in maintaining peace and security in the region.