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184474
Thu, 05/26/2011 - 01:31
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https://oananews.org//node/184474
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Senators introduce bill to tighten sanctions on N. Korea, Iran, Syria
By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, May 25 (Yonhap) -- A group of bipartisan senators have introduced a bill to tighten sanctions on North Korea, Iran and Syria to prevent the transfer of equipment and technology for the production of weapons of mass destruction.
The bill to "expand sanctions imposed with respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran, North Korea and Syria and for other purposes" calls for the freezing of assets of any company trading technology and equipment with the countries and banning their access to the U.S. banking system.
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) introduced the bill Monday with the sponsorship of 11 other senators. Among them are Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Susan Collins (R-ME), Bob Casey (D-PA) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ).
The bill comes one day ahead of the Obama administration's announcement to blacklist Korea Tangun Trading Corp. of North Korea and 14 other foreign firms for their involvement in weapons of mass destruction programs in North Korea, Iran and Syria.
North Korea has been under sanctions by the United Nations for its nuclear and missile tests.
The bill also coincides with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's ongoing tour of China, his third visit within a year, apparently to seek economic cooperation and China's support for the third-generation power transition to his youngest son, Jong-un.
The 28-year-old heir apparent last year was appointed vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the North's ruling Workers' Party, which oversees the 1.2 million-strong military, amid reports China, North Korea's biggest benefactor, has not yet given full support for the dynastic power transition.
Robert King, U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, is currently touring North Korea to assess the food situation in the impoverished communist state, believed to be suffering from widespread hunger due to floods and a harsh winter.
The visit, the first of its kind by a U.S. human rights envoy, is seen as reflecting Pyongyang's keen desire to get food aid.
North Korea early this year appealed to the U.S. and other countries for food aid.
The United Nations last month appealed for 430,000 tons of food for North Korea to feed 6 million people stricken by floods and severe winter weather. A U.N. monitoring team concluded a fact-finding mission in North Korea in early April.
U.S. food aid to the North was suspended in March 2009 amid heightened tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile tests and controversy over the transparency of food distribution.
South Korea has been less willing to resume food aid due to a lack of transparency in distribution. Critics say North Korea is exaggerating its food shortages in preparation for the 100th anniversary of the birth of its late leader, Kim Il-sung, in April next year.
The conservative Lee Myung-bak administration suspended food aid to North Korea due to the North's nuclear programs, although Lee's liberal predecessors had shipped more than 400,000 tons of food and fertilizer each to the North annually.
International talks on ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions have been in limbo for more than two years over U.N. sanctions imposed after the North's nuclear and missile tests and two deadly border attacks that killed 50 South Koreans last year.
WASHINGTON, May 25 (Yonhap) -- A group of bipartisan senators have introduced a bill to tighten sanctions on North Korea, Iran and Syria to prevent the transfer of equipment and technology for the production of weapons of mass destruction.
The bill to "expand sanctions imposed with respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran, North Korea and Syria and for other purposes" calls for the freezing of assets of any company trading technology and equipment with the countries and banning their access to the U.S. banking system.
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) introduced the bill Monday with the sponsorship of 11 other senators. Among them are Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Susan Collins (R-ME), Bob Casey (D-PA) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ).
The bill comes one day ahead of the Obama administration's announcement to blacklist Korea Tangun Trading Corp. of North Korea and 14 other foreign firms for their involvement in weapons of mass destruction programs in North Korea, Iran and Syria.
North Korea has been under sanctions by the United Nations for its nuclear and missile tests.
The bill also coincides with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's ongoing tour of China, his third visit within a year, apparently to seek economic cooperation and China's support for the third-generation power transition to his youngest son, Jong-un.
The 28-year-old heir apparent last year was appointed vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the North's ruling Workers' Party, which oversees the 1.2 million-strong military, amid reports China, North Korea's biggest benefactor, has not yet given full support for the dynastic power transition.
Robert King, U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, is currently touring North Korea to assess the food situation in the impoverished communist state, believed to be suffering from widespread hunger due to floods and a harsh winter.
The visit, the first of its kind by a U.S. human rights envoy, is seen as reflecting Pyongyang's keen desire to get food aid.
North Korea early this year appealed to the U.S. and other countries for food aid.
The United Nations last month appealed for 430,000 tons of food for North Korea to feed 6 million people stricken by floods and severe winter weather. A U.N. monitoring team concluded a fact-finding mission in North Korea in early April.
U.S. food aid to the North was suspended in March 2009 amid heightened tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile tests and controversy over the transparency of food distribution.
South Korea has been less willing to resume food aid due to a lack of transparency in distribution. Critics say North Korea is exaggerating its food shortages in preparation for the 100th anniversary of the birth of its late leader, Kim Il-sung, in April next year.
The conservative Lee Myung-bak administration suspended food aid to North Korea due to the North's nuclear programs, although Lee's liberal predecessors had shipped more than 400,000 tons of food and fertilizer each to the North annually.
International talks on ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions have been in limbo for more than two years over U.N. sanctions imposed after the North's nuclear and missile tests and two deadly border attacks that killed 50 South Koreans last year.
