WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today announced that the Senate passed legislation to sanction North Korea and deprive the regime the means to build its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, carryout its cyberattacks, and continue its human rights abuses. Roberts is a cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation, which passed by a vote of 96-0.

“This legislation is extremely important to show North Korea that we are watching and won’t allow their rogue behavior to continue,” said Roberts. “North Korea has openly engaged in rocket and missile tests, cyberattacks, and has grossly violated human rights – activities that threaten our allies and our own national security. President Obama’s ‘strategic patience’ approach has not worked, and these sanctions signal that the U.S. is prepared to use every economic tool at our disposal to stop North Korea and its enablers.”

The legislation, S. 2144, imposes mandatory sanctions on persons or entities that:

• Materially contribute to North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile development
• Engage in activities undermining cybersecurity
• Sold, supplied, or transferred to/from North Korea precious metals or raw metals, including aluminum, steel, and coal for the benefit of North Korea’s regime and its illicit activities
• Import luxury goods into North Korea
• Enable its censorship and human rights abuses
• Engage in money laundering and manufacture of counterfeit goods and narcotics trafficking

The sanctions would also penalize persons or entities that assist North Korea, such as China which is North Korea’s largest trading partner.  This is also the first time criminal cyber activity has been treated as a sanctionable offense.

The original legislation was introduced by Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) in the Senate. The president is expected to sign this legislation upon House passage.