Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Your Excellency, for being with us today. Certainly your comments about the current situation in North Korea are very troubling. I don't think any of us can possibly imagine what conditions must be like there.
The subcommittee, prior to my being part of it, had recommended that a commission of inquiry be set up to go into North Korea. Recently we had officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade here at our committee. It was pointed out to us that there are a number of factors that would probably not promote the idea of an inquiry being successful. First of all, what additional information would be gained in addition to what the rapporteur is collecting? Second, we know that North Korea would not grant access to a commission of inquiry. Third was a concern that even with a request to the U.N. to grant such an inquiry, the other bodies there would probably use their veto power to not allow it to happen.
There is a report coming up from the special rapporteur that I understand is to be released in March 2013. I'm wondering, Mr. Ambassador, what your expectations are. I know that it's hard to speculate. What are your expectations in terms of the utility of that report? Will it help us move forward in addressing the issues we're facing in North Korea?