US Senate: "China Export Controls Require Cooperation from Korea to Work"

'Secondary Boycott' Bill Must Close Gaps in North Korea Sanctions

Chairman Chris Van Hollen of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee's East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee.
[Photo by Reuters Yonhap News]

Voices in the U.S. Congress have stated that the success of U.S. export and investment control measures on advanced technology to China depends on close cooperation with allies and partners, including South Korea.

Chris Van Hollen, Chairman of the East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (Democrat), said in a speech at the Korea-U.S. Strategic Forum held by the Korea Foundation (KF) and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington DC on the 25th (local time), "We must work together to adopt rules that block the export of advanced technologies that can be used to strengthen military power and limit the deployment of capital."

He mentioned Japan and the Netherlands’ participation in export controls on semiconductor equipment to China, and said that export controls on advanced technology to China "only work if we cooperate with all allies," urging cooperation by stating, "Samsung is clearly a major producer of semiconductors and advanced electronic equipment."

He then referred to the slogan of advanced technology controls on China, "small yard, high fence," and said, "We need to agree among ourselves on how large the yard should be."

Chairman Van Hollen mentioned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying, "Europe has painfully learned that relying too much on Russian oil and gas was a mistake," and added, "We must learn the lesson that diversifying supply chains and cooperating with trusted partners for critical minerals for advanced semiconductors, electric vehicles, and batteries is important."

He continued, "This is why it is important to continue cooperation as part of the Critical Minerals Security Partnership and the CHIPS 4 alliance (a semiconductor alliance encompassing South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan)," emphasizing, "We must prevent China from dominating industries that will define the future economy."

Van Hollen also spoke about the North Korea-Russia summit, stating, "Kim Jong-un is 'all in' with Putin and is trying to leverage basic ammunition supplies to gain access to Russia’s advanced missile technology," and added, "North Korea, which fuels Russia’s war, must be made to pay the price."

He mentioned the so-called "Otto Warmbier Act," which includes a secondary boycott on foreign banks dealing with North Korea and was passed through his initiative, emphasizing, "One of the measures we must take is to better enforce existing sanctions on North Korea."

Regarding the annual report of the UN Security Council’s North Korea Sanctions Committee, he said, "The UN has identified various schemes North Korea uses to evade sanctions and some companies that facilitate this," and added, "Including strengthening crackdowns on cryptocurrency, we must make greater efforts to close gaps in the enforcement system."

He stated, "It is important that we work together to ensure existing sanctions are properly applied until we find additional points where North Korea feels pain."

Van Hollen also urged avoiding a temporary government shutdown by passing the budget in the House of Representatives led by the Republicans, saying, "It is no secret that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy fears far-right groups, including those opposing continued support for Ukraine, but he must prioritize national interest over his political gains."