The House approved legislation on Thursday that would impose strict sanctions on North Korea’s shipping industry and entities that employ slave labor in response to recent North Korean provocations.
The Korean Interdiction and Modernization of Sanctions Act, H.R. 1644, cleared the House with support from U.S. Reps. Susan Brooks (R-IN), John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Jackie Walorski (R-IN).
The action by House lawmakers comes amid concerns over the progression of North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The sanctions would further restrict North Korea’s access to money and materials for its weapons programs by significantly expanding existing sanctions against the regime.
“Since 2015, North Korea has launched at least 49 missiles and preparations for a sixth nuclear test are underway,” Brooks said. “This is no idle threat. We must apply sustained diplomatic and financial pressure to Kim Jong-un and his regime, and make sure that existing sanctions are enforced to prevent further development of their nuclear powers.”
In addition to sanctioning North Korean shipping and those that employ North Korean slave labor, H.R. 1644 would also take steps to ensure that existing North Korean sanctions are enforced.
“It is clear that North Korea represents a threat to our allies and to our troops stationed abroad, particularly those stationed in South Korea and Japan,” Brooks continued. “These sanctions are a good step towards resolving this situation peacefully in cooperation with our allies to ensure international stability and safety.”
Moolenaar, meanwhile, supported the North Korea sanctions bill in response to the country’s repeated ballistic missile tests that threaten the security of the American people.
“The government of North Korea is trying to develop weapons that can be used to threaten the United States and its allies,” Moolenaar said. The new sanctions will protect the American people and support efforts to stop North Korea, he added.
The House previously approved two other measures with bipartisan support: the North Korea State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act, H.R. 479, and H.Res 92, which would condemn North Korea’s development of an intercontinental ballistic missile program.
“North Korea is a rogue regime intent on destabilizing the region and threatening the U.S. and our allies,” Walorski said. “We are taking action to impose tough new sanctions on North Korea to put pressure on Kim Jong-un and hold the regime accountable. The days of ‘strategic patience’ toward North Korean aggression are over.”