WASHINGTON, DC—Representative Eliot L. Engel, the leading Democrat on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today hailed passage in the U.S. House of Representatives of legislation that would level sanctions on the North Korean regime and its supporters.

"The regime in North Korea represents a grave threat to the United States and our allies. At the same time, that country's people are enduring horrific abuse and oppression under the iron fist of their unelected leaders," said Rep. Engel. "This legislation would crack down on the regime and send a clear message that this sort of criminal behavior won't be tolerated."

H.R. 1771 would impose the first comprehensive sanctions on the North Korean regime and those in other countries who abet North Korea’s arms smuggling, weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile development, human rights abuses, and support of terrorism. The legislation would require asset freezes and seizures as well as visa denials on persons who materially contribute to these efforts.

The bill would also require the Treasury Department to determine if North Korea is engaged in money-laundering and, if so, block any entity from access to the U.S. financial system if it conducts direct or indirect transactions with North Korean banks.

The legislation would call for a public report identifying North Korean human rights violators and political prison camp, and would require a feasibility study of providing North Korean nationals with Internet communications devices to overcome North Korean censorship.

H.R. 1771 was adopted unanimously by the House.

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H.R.1771 - North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2013