United States President Barack Obama is set to sign a comprehensive North Korea sanctions bill that has recently passed Congress with support, the White House has announced. The bill will blacklist parties assisting the crimes committed by the communist nation including its nuclear weapons program, human rights violations and cyber-attacks.
In a report by UPI, the bipartisan bill was passed unanimously in Congress days ago. The legislation is called H.R. 757 and was passed both by the Senate and the House. The voting took place shortly after North Korea launched an "earth observation satellite," which violates the United Nations Security Council resolutions. North Korea also conducted their fourth nuclear test back in January this year. The tests were not only slammed by the U.S. but also by South Korea and Japan.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a statement that the Obama administration is "deeply concerned about North Korea's actions," adding that the bill will serve to increase the pressure on North Korea, as reported by Korea Times. Earnest did not say when the signing will take place but assured that Obama plans to sign it.
The bill aims to toughen the sanctions so it would penalize both individuals and groups supporting North Korea, specifically in the nuclear weapons and missile development, the country's widespread human rights abuses, and anyone who will provide ways and means for the country to launch cyber-attacks.
China said that they would help in trying to stop North Korea from their nuclear activities but the country has been cautious in doing any action as it could result to the wreckage of Pyongyang's economy.
South Korea has, however, taken bolder steps as they shut down the Kaesong Industrial Complex. This is a multimillion-dollar manufacturing center that employed North Korean labor but is managed by South Korean enterprises. Seoul said that the company has been used by North Korea to fund their nuclear and missile programs, CBS reported.
This is the first time that a sanctions bill against North Korea has been passed both by the House and the Senate. Several proposals have been presented to Congress, but none of it passed both chambers.
