Leaders of House and Senate committees tasked with foreign relations called on the Trump administration to take action following reports that North Korea had conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test.
North Korea claims that leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test of a hydrogen bomb on Sunday that could be attached to a missile capable of reaching the U.S. homeland.
U.S Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Bob Corker (R-TN), and U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) called on the Trump administration to take steps to assess and respond to North Korea’s nuclear test.
“This latest nuclear test by Kim Jong Un may be the clearest sign that we have seen that they are ready and willing to start a nuclear war that would lead to unimaginable destruction and loss of life on the Korean Peninsula,” said Gardner, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity.
The international community must join together to isolate the North Korean regime, the lawmakers agreed.
Gardner recommended that North Korea be removed from the United Nations and that the United Nations Security Council enact a new resolution that imposes a complete economic embargo on North Korea, including petroleum resources.
Gardner, who previously introduced a bill that would prohibit those that do business with or enable North Korea from accessing to the U.S. financial system, also called on the administration to block all entities that do business with North Korea.
“These economic tools need to be combined with robust military deterrent, including imposing a U.S.-led international naval blockade of North Korea in order to ensure a full enforcement of United Nations actions,” Gardner said. “We must also continue frequent show of force exercises by the United States and our partners in Seoul and Tokyo, enhanced missile defense activities, and assurance of extended U.S. nuclear deterrence to our allies.”
“Kim Jong Un must know that any serious provocation will be met with a full range of U.S. military capabilities,” Gardner said.
Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he spoke to White House Chief of Staff John Kelly as the administration’s national security team worked to assess the situation and communicate with partners in the region on Sunday.
“We stand ready to work with the administration to support a comprehensive strategy that not only places an emphasis on deterrence but also empowers our allies and partners in the region, who must do far more to confront this threat,” Corker said.
Royce, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also called on the administration to apply more economic pressure on those who aid in the advancement of North Korea’s nuclear program. North Korea’s nuclear advancements present an “unacceptable threat” to the United States and its allies, Royce added.
“The administration should swiftly and fully utilize authorities provided by Congress to deny Kim Jong Un the cash he needs to fuel his illicit weapons programs,” Royce said.
“Working with our allies, especially South Korea and Japan, we must apply maximum financial and diplomatic pressure. That includes targeting more Chinese banks that do business with North Korea — with or without Beijing’s cooperation.”