Press Release

Sacramento, CA – Congressman Ami Bera (D-CA), the Vice Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after North Korea detonated a nuclear device:

"Having just returned from South Korea and having met with President Moon Jae-in and Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, the United States stands fully behind our South Korean allies. North Korea's latest nuclear detonation is unacceptable and Kim Jong-un must understand that any military action taken by North Korea will be swiftly met by an American response.

I am also troubled by President Trump's recent actions to undermine the vital U.S.-South Korean alliance. Allies deserve our support, not a president who casts doubts between our two nations. China too must take responsibility and help stabilize the Korean peninsula. Their unwillingness to engage North Korea is exacerbating tensions in the region.

The United States stands ready and prepared to defend our South Korean allies, and North Korea must be held accountable for its actions. Now is the time to ratchet up economic sanctions targeting Kim Jong-un's regime and work tirelessly to find diplomatic solutions."

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