US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Approves Broader N. Korea Sanctions

The North Korea-focused website, 38 North, said it has detected what could be the early stages of preparation for launching a space launch vehicle at the nation’s main rocket launch site at Sohae. North Korea does this periodically, they move things back and forth…

The official told The Associated Press that the United States has seen activity at a ballistic missile test site that is consistent with previous tests, but the official would not go into more detail. He did say, however, that Japan would work with partners and keep pressure on North Korea to abide by the multilateral, “six-party” talks that aim to denuclearize the Korean peninsula.

The regime in Pyongyang fired a long-range rocket before each of its previous three nuclear tests, which all resulted in a tightening of worldwide sanctions.

If the launch does indeed transpire to be a missile launch, “It will be a direct violation of (a U.N. Security Council resolution) and … will be a severe provocation and threat against peace and stability of South Korea, northeast Asia and the world”. Washington is pressing for tighter sanctions – a step China, the North’s only ally, appears reluctant to take. US Secretary of State John Kerry met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday and said they had agreed to mount an “accelerated effort” to try to resolve their differences on a new resolution.

He added, however, that South Korea’s military was monitoring for any signs of a long-range missile launch.

“I am heartened that this bill will set the precedent and put in place strong mandatory sanctions and establish the first non-statutory framework for sanctions in response to North Korea cyber threats”, US Senator Bob Corker stated. South Korean defence ministry spokesman Kim Min-Seok declined to confirm or deny the Japanese reports, saying the ministry did not comment on intelligence matters.