Earlier on today, U.S. Representative Ilena Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, introduced H.R. 204, the North Korea Sanctions and Diplomatic Nonrecognition Act of 2015. She was joined by Representatives Gerald Connolly (D-VA), Matt Salmon (R-AZ), Steve Chabot (R-OH), and Ted Poe (R-TX). The proposed bill would put North Korea back on the Terrorism list.
The following is a statement by Ros-Lihtinen:
While recent events have reaffirmed the nefarious nature of the North Korean regime, the evidence has been building for years that North Korea should have never been taken off the State Sponsor of Terrorism list in the first place. In 2008, I opposed the Bush administration taking North Korea off the list and, ever since then, I have been advocating for putting North Korea back on because that is the true nature of this murderous regime. Pyongyang has flagrantly violated United Nations Security Council resolutions time and time again and has not honored the assurances given to Six-Party partners.
It is no secret North Korea has human rights issues and they are a possible threat to the United States. Some would even say they have nuclear weapons that could reach Hawaii courtesy of former President Bill Clinton (D) who gave them two nuclear reactors in 1994.
Ros-Lihtinen admits they are a threat as well. She also said:
From kidnapping U.S. citizens, to repeated missile launches, sinking a South Korean naval vessel, an appalling human rights record, and to the recent cyber attacks, it is clear that the North Koreans feel emboldened and the U.S. must respond with enforcing and applying stricter sanctions. For our own national security, as well as that of our allies, especially those in the region like South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, we cannot allow North Korea to continue sponsoring terror without consequences.
Ironically this bill was introduced on Kim Jong-Un’s 32nd birthday. It is a fitting gift for a dictator. Happy Birthday Jong-Un, from the United States of America.