The Senate passed a bill Monday aimed at preventing nuclear proliferation in North Korea, following Pyongynag’s reported third nuclear test earlier this month.
The North Korea Nonproliferation and Accountability Act, introduced by Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), passed by unanimous consent Monday evening.
The legislation states that the missile tests “represent flagrant violations” and urges members if the United Nations to implement tougher sanctions against the country.
The bill also says members of Congress believe the U.S. government should “seek a new round of United Nations Security Council sanctions, including the public identification of all North Korean and foreign banks, business, and government agencies suspected of conduct that violates United Nations Security Council resolutions, and implementing necessary measures to ensure enforcement of such sanctions,” The Hill reported.
The bill also calls on the Secretary of State John Kerry to issue a report by May 15 on U.S. policy towards North Korea and ways to end its missiles program.
Meanwhile, North Korea threatened the United States with “miserable destruction” on Saturday if the Pentagon goes ahead with its annual, routine military exercises with South Korea next month.
“You had better bear in mind that those igniting a war are destined to meet a miserable destruction,” said Pak Rim Su, chief of North Korea's military delegation to the Demilitarized Zone between the two countries.
He called the drills were “reckless,” accusing the United States and South Korea of preparing to invade the North.