Ben Cardin

We would like to know that answer to see how we can counter that with an effective strategy.

A sudden regime collapse would create a highly unstable and politically intolerable situation for China, South Korea, and Japan.

There is no nation in the world with a more egregious human rights record than North Korea.

We have got to work in Japan. We have got to work with China.

We have to work very closely with our close ally, the Republic of Korea.

Our goals for North Korea are pretty simple. We want to stop proliferation. We wanted a denuclearized peninsula.

There is no country in the world that is equal to the extent of human rights abuses as North Korea.

The United States should never engage in negotiations with Pyongyang without imposing strict preconditions that North Korea take immediate steps to halt its nuclear program, cease all military provocations, and make credible steps to…

I introduced a bill... called the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2015.

If this strategic policy will not change behavior, then I believe Congress needs to change the behavior.

The policy of strategic patience in my view has been a strategic failure.

North Korea now poses a grave threat to those well beyond South Korea.

There is only one country that has the capacity to not only be involved but to represent universal values that can give us lasting peace in the region, and that is the United States.

We certainly need a political solution in Syria, and it must be without Assad. I agree with that completely.

We cannot win a military victory in these countries. We know that. We have to establish a government that represents all the people.

I would not call it a light touch, our involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, the Middle East generally, GCC with our military presence.

I think this is going to be the downfall of Vladimir Putin's adventure in Syria, that he is going to be seen as really working against the Sunni Muslim population around the world.

We do not expect overnight change. We do not expect them to adopt an American system. We do expect them to adhere to international human rights.

If we do not use the opportunities we have to make those advances it will come back to hurt U.S. interests and security interests.

Arab Spring happened. People want freedom. It may not be the immediate issue, but it will emerge.

I give President Obama credit for speaking publicly about the need to have these conversations because they are essential.

I certainly agree with your final comment.

U.S. engagement with the GCC is fundamental to achieving any shared goal in the region.

It is critically important that the United States has a well-articulated regional security strategy that gives comfort to our allies.

I strongly support this hearing and having a discussion on the regional security strategies involving our Gulf Cooperation Council in Yemen.