The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations committee said he will call for legislation “to impose additional sanctions” on North Korea following reports it conducted an underground nuclear test.
Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., called on the United States and its allies to “respond resolutely,” adding, “In particular, I intend to work with my colleagues in the Senate on legislation to impose additional sanctions on North Korea and would also urge additional sanctions by the United Nations Security Council.”
Republicans have responded less specifically to North Korea’s Tuesday claim that it successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb. NATO has since denounced North Korea’s test. Wednesday morning, House Speaker Paul Ryan , R-Wis., suggested only that a strong U.S. response would be needed.
“It’s a little early to say what the response should be until we get all the facts,” Ryan said.
Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., stopped short of demanding additional sanctions, though he said the reports of North Korea’s hydrogen bomb test are “disturbing.” Corker criticized the Obama administration’s policy toward North Korea as “an abject failure,” and called on the United States to “take a more assertive role in addressing North Korea’s provocation.”
“If found to be yet another test, yesterday’s event serves as a sober reminder that ignoring this threat and hoping it will go away does not constitute a policy,” he said.
But some Republicans faulted what they believe to be a weak Obama administration foreign policy strategy for North Korea’s latest provocation.
“President Obama caves, North Korea threatens,” a Wednesday morning email blast from the office of Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., read.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, also faulted a weak U.S. foreign policy stance.
“Unfortunately, the view around the world is that U.S. leadership is in decline while the Administration’s inaction only fuels those concerns,” Thornberry said.
Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., another top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations panel, said Wednesday the Senate should pass legislation he authored in 2015 which would expand the ability of the administration to sanction property and seize money from those providing support to North Korea’s leadership, among other things.
“I urge my colleagues to swiftly pass my legislation to tighten sanctions since it’s obvious the sanctions we have in place are all-too-often ignored and North Korea continues to get away with bad behavior,” Menendez said. “In addition to congressional action, I also call on the United Nations Security Council to impose, and to vigorously enforce, additional sanctions.”
