US Senate Committee Approves N Korea Sanctions Bill

Sanctions bill against Pyongyang approved by the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously approved on Thursday a sanctions bill against Pyongyang, which establishes the first ever framework to address North Korean cyber threats.

"I am heartened that this bill will set the precedent and put in place strong mandatory sanctions and establish the first non-statutory framework for sanctions in response to North Korea cyber threats," US Senator Bob Corker stated.

A similar bill passed the House of Representatives earlier in January, but measures addressing cybersecurity were enhanced. The bill passed the House with only two votes opposing the measure.

Ranking Committee Democrat Ben Cardin expressed his confidence that the bill "will pass through the US Senate and be signed into law by the President." The bill will come to a vote on the floor in the coming two weeks.

Following Pyongyang’s January 6 nuclear test, the White House announced new economic sanctions targeting the already isolated country.