Young, Donnelly release statements on North Korea briefing

The Trump administration invited all 100 U.S. Senators for an unusual White House briefing Wednesday (April 26) regarding uneasy relations with North Korea, prompted by the nation’s nuclear threats and talk of military action, if necessary, by the U.S.

Most senators attended and were transported in buses to the classified briefing conducted by the president's top national security officials, and a 15-minute appearance by Trump. The briefing team was to meet later with House members in the Capitol.

Indiana's two senators, Todd Young and Joe Donnelly, both released statements after the briefing through their press offices.

Sen. Todd Young:

Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) released a statement after participating in a Senators-only briefing at the White House regarding North Korea:

 “Today’s briefing at the White House underscored that North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs represent an urgent and unacceptable threat to the United States and our allies. The administration must keep all options on the table.”

 “Furthermore, I support the Trump administration’s strategy of coordinating closely with our allies, strengthening our military capabilities in the region, and making clear to Beijing that it is in China’s interests to utilize all of their available diplomatic and economic leverage to change North Korea’s behavior.” 

 

Sen. Joe Donnelly:

U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly attended a briefing at the White House Wednesday on the recent aggressive actions by North Korea. Donnelly serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee which provides oversight on the nation’s nuclear arsenal and missile defense programs. He also serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance, which provides oversight on the implementation of financial sanctions programs.

Donnelly said, “Addressing the threat North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles pose to the United States and our allies needs to be a top national security priority for the President and Congress. As the Ranking Member of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, I have been to the DMZ and met with Hoosiers stationed there. I will continue to work with my colleagues on a bipartisan basis to increase sanctions against North Korea and those who enable them and ensure our military has the resources it needs to protect our homeland and our troops.”

 According to the Department of Defense, as of 2016, approximately 54,000 U.S. military personnel are stationed in Japan and another 28,500 are stationed in South Korea. Donnelly visited South Korea in July 2015 where he met with Hoosier service members stationed in the country and got a firsthand look at the DMZ and the threat posed by North Korea.