Washington, D.C. –The North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016 passed the Senate today by a unanimous vote of 96-0.

The legislation is in response to U.S. policy that has failed to contain the North Korean nuclear threat and permitted the North Korean regime to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technology. Senator Risch was an original cosponsor of the bill, along with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO).

 “President Obama’s so-called ‘strategic patience’ has failed to take the threat of nuclear North Korea seriously,” said Risch “North Korea remains one of the biggest nuclear threats to the United States and our allies around the world. It is time for the United States to increase pressure on North Korea and require them to end their nuclear program, stop the cyber-attacks against us, and respect the human rights of their own citizens. This legislation will finally begin to sanction the people that help North Korea threaten peace and security. Anyone who facilitates North Korea’s weapons program, abuses human rights, or launders money and goods on behalf of the regime will have their assets frozen and be denied access to the U.S. financial system.  This type of sanctions regime brought Iran to the negotiating table and it is time the United States apply similar sanctions on North Korea.” 

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