On May 29, 2014, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a markup for H.R. 1771, the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act. As originally introduced, H.R. 1771 drew significant inspiration from sanctions imposed against Iran, introducing secondary sanctions against foreign businesses and governments doing business with North Korean entities targeted by the US. Outlined below are some of the key elements of the new legislation:
- Mandates sanctions against entities determined by the President to have engaged in transactions with North Korea related to WMD proliferation, arms, luxury goods exports, money laundering and other illicit activities, censorship, or serious human rights abuses.
- Grants the President discretionary authority to sanction entities that engage in or facilitate the violation of applicable UN Security Council resolutions; that facilitate the transfer of funds for an entity sanctioned by an Executive Order or the UN Security Council; or that have contributed to the bribery of or misappropriation of public funds by a North Korean official.
- Urges the President “in the strongest terms” to consider designating North Korea as a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern under Section 311 of the Patriot Act, and requires the Treasury Department to determine whether there are reasonable grounds for concluding that North Korea is a jurisdiction of money laundering concern.
- Directs the President to withhold aid to any country that provides or receives lethal military equipment from North Korea.
- Directs the Department of Homeland Security to impose enhanced inspection requirements for any cargo landed in the US that has been transported through a port or airport deemed deficient at preventing the facilitation of sanctioned activities.
- Requires the State Department to submit a report identifying individuals responsible for serious human rights abuses or censorship in North Korea, making specific findings about the responsibility of Kim Jong Un and each member of North Korea’s National Defense Commission, and for the President to sanction such individuals.
THE NCNK ISSUE BRIEF
http://www.ncnk.org/resources/publications/HR_1771_Revisions_Issue_brief.pdf
The National Committee on North Korea (NCNK)
http://www.ncnk.org/
1The National Committee is a non-partisan coalition of individuals with extensive and complementary knowledge of and direct experience related to the society, economy, government, and history of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
We are a diverse group. A number of members served as diplomats in some of the landmark U.S.-DPRK negotiations. Some have authored major books on the history, society, and security of the Korean Peninsula. Other members have worked in virtually all parts of North Korea, and on issues related to the country’s current economic, humanitarian, refugee, and medical crises. Some of our experience reaches back to the era of the Korean War. Most have extensive contacts in the Republic of Korea, China, Japan, and Russia related to the Korean Peninsula. While the National Committee on North Korea is non-governmental, several of the members have worked in official positions and have ongoing ties with current or past administrations and with the United States Congress.
Sue Mi Terry
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