President Obama Vows To Approve Tougher Sanctions On North Korea
The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday approved broad new sanctions against North Korea for its recent provocations. Yonhap News Agency reported that the legislation covers a package of stern sanctions against North Korea.
The Congress passed the legislation, North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2016, in a 408-2 vote, which took place a couple of days after the Senate collectively passed the said legislation in a demonstration of bipartisan support for a stricter rejoinder against North Korea.
North Korea recently conducted its fourth nuclear test which is a violation of international accord. Aside from that, the country also launched a long-range missile just this month.
The legislation for tougher sanctions against the North has been sent to President Barrack Obama for his signatory. Said legislation is expected to take effect early next week.
According to reports, this legislation intended for North Korea is deemed to be the strongest sanctions bill ever proposed in Congress. The sanctions bill was originally authored by Rep. Ed Royce of the House of Foreign Affairs Committee.
Meanwhile, White House Spokesman Eric Schultz said the administration was "deeply concerned" on North Korea's recent provocations. He assured that the administration will not go up against the sanctions bill.
"We're philosophically and intellectually in the same place as the Congress on this," he said, as noted by Reuters.
Under the sanctions bill, any individual who engages, assists or participates to North Korea's production of weapons, arms-related objects, luxury possessions and human rights violence will face sanctions that has corresponding penalties.
Some these penalties include apprehension of assets, visa bans and rejection of government bonds.
"The tyrannical regime of Kim Jong Un has developed increasingly destructive weapons. It's miniaturized nuclear warheads that fit onto its most reliable missiles," Royce said.
He added, "We cannot stand by any longer. The legislation we consider today is the most comprehensive North Korea sanctions legislation to come before this body."
