The following statement may be attributed to Congressman Michael C. Burgess concerning North Korea’s test of a nuclear weapon:

“We must institute real and substantial sanctions against North Korea specifically aimed at their military capability. Because of the already dire humanitarian situation in that country, this aid should continue but only under the auspices of a third-party country to ensure that the aid actually goes to the deprived people of North Korea and not to the government.

“It is my hope, and I have discussed this idea with House Leadership, that the congressional committees of jurisdiction should host hearings on North Korea’s nuclear movements. They should prepare legislation that makes agreements with the neighbor nations such that any act of aggression upon them would be seen as an act of aggression upon United States itself. Any aggression will be met with the necessary force.

“We must further state the clear intention of the United States is to stop the nuclear escalation in North Korea. We cannot afford the potential diversion of nuclear material to other rogue nations, nor do we want to see an escalation of an arms race locally in the region.”