|
|
Press Release
|
|
|
2/14/2007 - Missile Defense Receives Validation with the Dismantling of North Korea's Nuclear Program
|
WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb.14 -- In the wake of the announcement that North Korea would suspend its nuclear programs in exchange for economic and energy aid, Riki Ellison, Founder & President of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (http://missiledefenseadvocacy.org), voiced his organization's support for what appears to be the first major step forward in diplomatic relations with North Korea in the last several years.
"On behalf of the world and our nation, we are extremely pleased and offer our sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Department of State, the National Security Council and our President George W. Bush for the completion and success of the 5 nation talks to denuclearize North Korea," Ellison stated.
In particular, the government of the People's Republic of China, which hosted the six-party talks in Beijing and was undoubtedly influential in persuading North Korea to engage in negotiations and accept the agreement, received praise from Mr. Ellison.
"MDAA extends our memberships' gratitude and recognition for the bold leadership of The Peoples Republic of China in leading the pressure that no other country could do to bring North Korea to the accord. We must also give credit to our President who forged the relationship with the President of China and articulately convinced the Chinese that it was in their best interests to bring closure to North Korea peacefully."
In addition to diplomatic pressure, Mr. Ellison touted the missile defense forces deployed worldwide as being a key component of North Korea's decision to accept the agreement, stating that "It is resoundingly clear that the United States deployment and continued development of Missile Defense assets this past summer in lieu of the North Korean ballistic missile launches and its denotation of a nuclear weapon this past fall was part of the diplomatic solution."
"The ground based interceptors in Alaska and California, along with the several Aegis ships carrying sea based missile defense interceptors patrolling off the waters of North Korea in combination with the series of successful missile defense tests this past year sent North Korea a clear message of defense, dissuasion and deterrence that helped enabled the diplomatic solution. Because of our Missile Defense, the United States was able to be more flexible to compromise with the demands of North Korea. The investment spent on Missile Defense by our country was well worth the linkage to reduce proliferation and make that region of the world a safer place."
This agreement requires North Korea to shut down their nuclear facility at Yongbyon within 60 days, followed by a second stage where the facility, along with all nuclear sites and weapons must be disabled and rendered unusable. Following the satisfactory completion of stage one and two, North Korea would be given one million tons of fuel from China, Japan, South Korea, the United States of America and Russia, the cost to the US being 120 million dollars worth of grain and medical supplies to the oil supplying nations.
However, Mr. Ellison emphasized "It is of merit that we must, as a nation, continue to invest in missile defense and continue to deploy these systems around the world, as though the accord is successful, there will be a time when the 1 million tons of fuel will be not enough and hunger for more will drive irrational acts of world proportion."
###
NOTE: Riki Ellison is one of the top experts and the leading layperson on missile defense with more than 25 years of experience. He is available for interviews.
Contacts: Chris Marks, Communications Officer (703.299.0060) Mike Terrill (602.885.1955)
|
|
| |
|
|
|