WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement:

“North Korea’s latest illegal and provocative intercontinental ballistic missile launch—the longest range to date—underscores the Kim regime’s determination to develop a weapon that can reliably threaten the entire United States with a nuclear attack.  The United States needs to use all the tools of diplomacy—starting with filling key vacancies at the Department of State and involving them in every aspect of our strategy toward North Korea.  But all we’ve seen to date from President Trump is bluster and hollowing out of the State Department.  Frankly, the State Department is hemorrhaging top talent when we need them now more than ever.

“The Administration must work also with China as North Korea’s largest trading partner, but should not shy away from holding Chinese financial institutions accountable when they violate U.S. law by facilitating trade that benefits the North Korean regime.

“Yesterday, the bluster continued as the President uttered his third ‘redline’ to address the North Korea nuclear challenge, but so far has failed to put in place the people or strategy that could do just that.”

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