Presidential Determination on U.S. Assistance to the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO)

President Clinton determined that providing up to $5 million in U.S. funds to the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) was important to national security interests, authorizing the contribution under a waiver provision of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. The Secretary of State was directed to transmit this determination to Congress and arrange for Federal Register publication.

Federal Register Open PDF 63 FR 36149

Key directives

Determine that $5 million contribution to KEDO is important to U.S. security interests
Authorize contribution without regard to certain provisions of law under section 614(a)(1) waiver
Direct Secretary of State to transmit determination to Congress
Direct Secretary of State to arrange Federal Register publication

Who is ordered

Secretary of State · Department of State

Timeline

Immediate

Determination signed June 19, 1998
Authorization of up to $5 million contribution to KEDO
Waiver of certain Foreign Assistance Act provisions invoked

Near term (90d)

Secretary of State to transmit determination to Congress
Federal Register publication arranged

Long term

U.S. financial support for KEDO's Korean Peninsula energy development objectives

Risks & tensions

Section 614(a)(1) waiver allows bypassing normal congressional restrictions on foreign assistance, raising separation-of-powers tensions
KEDO was part of 1994 Agreed Framework with North Korea; this determination supports engagement with a hostile regime during a period of nuclear proliferation concerns
Text does not specify when funds must be transmitted or spent, creating implementation uncertainty