• MOBILE APP USERS: LISTEN HERE

A conference call with Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning, NY 23) and regional media representatives. Held Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 6, 2017.

In this week’s call, Congressman Reed discusses his effort to help the Teamsters Union in New York State find a way to avoid significant reductions in their monthly pension payments.

In addition, he discusses the return to congress and the effort to provide relief to those communities affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, avoid a government shutdown, Immigration Reform in the wake of the president’s call to reverse DACA, and reaction to the escalating tension between the U.S. and North Korea.

Rep. Tom Reed (R-Corning)

Rep. Tom Reed (R-Corning)

WASHINGTON – Chautauqua County’s representative in congress says a new report regarding the continued development of nuclear weapons by North Korea is deeply concerning and is demanding the president stand with Asian allies.

According to a report from South Korea’s defense minister, North Korea has now developed a large-caliber multiple launch rocket system that has the capability to strike South Korea’s capitol of Seoul as early as this year.

The announcement comes a day after a South Korean official said the North has the ability to mount a nuclear warhead on a medium-range missile that could strike targets in Russia, China, Japan and the Korean Peninsula.

Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning, NY 23), who represents Chautauqua County in Washington, said the report is deeply concerning and also placed the blame partly on President Obama.

“The President’s policies of appeasement, weakening our military and lack of a firm, consistent international strategy must end as they undermine our security both at home and around the world,” Reed said in a statement released Wednesday. “It is only right that we stand with our allies, including South Korea and Japan, and demand that North Korea’s nuclear activity come to an end. In addition, we call on China to use its power and influence in the region to immediately disarm and dismantle North Korea’s nuclear program.”

North Korea recently has threatened to “scorch” South Korea’s presidential offices with its “powerful large-caliber multiple-rocket-launching systems,” according to statements from the regime.

China has already rolled out sanctions supporting the United Nation’s call to stop imports of iron, coal, ironstone, gold, titanium and rare earth and halt exports of a range of products, including jet fuel, to North Korea. These moves are likely to have an impact on Pyongyang within six months or a year.

The UN sanctions came after Pyongyang conducted a fourth nuclear test in January and launched a long-range rocket in February. The aim of the sanction is to starve North Korea of funding for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Last week President Obama met with the leaders from China, Japan, and South Korea to discuss ways to meet one the nuclear threat from North Korea.