WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement on today’s United Nations Security Council Resolution following North Korea’s fifth nuclear test, conducted in September:

“Today’s UN Security Council Resolution closes important loopholes in previous sanctions and sends a clear message to the Kim Regime: the world is united against North Korea’s reckless and illegal pursuit of ballistic missile and nuclear weapons; we remain resolutely committed to international nonproliferation; and we will continue to thwart, at every turn, the Regime’s efforts to divert resources desperately needed by the North Korean people in order acquire illicit materials.

“I congratulate President Obama for building international consensus around the most robust sanctions package to date against North Korea. Today’s resolution tightens restrictions on North Korea’s coal exports, limits North Korean diplomatic missions from being used as arms-smuggling fronts, and cracks down on the Regime’s illicit transportation activities.

“I also commend our allies in Northeast Asia for the timely and important steps they have taken this month to strengthen intelligence sharing. Adopting the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) was an important step for Korea and Japan and paves the way for future cooperation with our allies against a common threat.

“North Korea must remain a priority issue for the next Administration. Now that these sanctions are in place, we need to keep up pressure on China, Russia, and other governments to uphold their end of the bargain. If faithfully enforced, these sanctions should slow the Regime’s progress on its weapons program.  But sanctions alone will not resolve this challenge. They are a tool to compel North Korea to come back to the negotiating table and commit to denuclearization.”

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