U.S. Congress to pass bill imposing tough economic sanctions on N.Korea

The United Nations isn't the only one mulling over additional sanctions on Pyongyang. U.S. Congress wants to hit the leadership with more punitive measures for its brutal repression and abuse of the North Korean people. Connie Kim reports. The United States is attempting to fast-track legislation to impose fresh sanctions against North Korea for its grave human rights abuses. Speaking at a congressional hearing on North Korea, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed Royce, said Washington will take every measure to hold the North Korean leader and his aides responsible for crimes against humanity. The bill is designed to directly affect the regime by cutting Kim Jong-un off from his hefty finances. It includes plans to ban financial institutions and other countries from having any kind of trade or cash transactions with Pyongyang. This would have a significant effect as North Korea is believed to have billions of dollars tucked away in various tax havens. The legislation dubbed the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2013 was proposed by Royce in April last year to further isolate Pyongyang from the international financial system. However, a report published by the U.S. Congressional Research Service suggests the bill could cause friction with South Korea, especially if Seoul decides to expand its joint Kaesong industrial complex with North Korea. Connie Kim, Arirang News.