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Schneider Statement on Summit with North Korea

June 12, 2018

Today, Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Meeting, released the below statement:

"I always support constructive diplomacy as the best means to achieve our national goals, and this meeting was a positive step toward hopefully reducing tensions and eliminating the nuclear threat on the Korean Peninsula.

"Nevertheless, we must remain clear-eyed about North Korea's long history of breaking previous commitments to denuclearize. I have serious concerns that President Trump has granted legitimacy to the brutal Kim regime on the world stage and given up joint exercises critical to military readiness with our long-standing ally South Korea, all in return for little more than shallow promises.

"In the days ahead, I hope our diplomatic engagement continues, in concert with our allies, to flesh out much needed details and methods of verification for any agreement, as well as to seek bold action to address North Korea's horrific human rights abuses and the regime's support for international terrorist organizations.

"Congress must have formal input before any final commitment, and exercise its responsibility for oversight of any prospective agreement."