Britain hopes UN will agree soon on tough NKorea sanctions

“Despite our repeated requests to stop nuclear tests and missile development, (North Korea) pushed ahead with the launch”.

The bill also authorizes $10 million annually over the course of five years to transmit radio broadcasts into North Korea and provide humanitarian assistance to fleeing refugees.

The bill is then expected to be forwarded to the White House.

The move comes after the Pyongyang said it launched a Kwangmyongsong-4 Earth observation satellite into orbit on Sunday and last month tested what it claimed was a hydrogen bomb. Pyongyang conducted its fourth underground nuclear test last month. The technology used to launch a rocket carrying a satellite can be applied to fire a long-range missile. The act was condemned by worldwide leaders as a possible global and regional threat.

Both findings will deepen concern that North Korea is not only making technical advances in its nuclear weapons program, but is working to expand what is thought to be a small nuclear arsenal.

The White House said Obama had spoken to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Park Geun-Hye to weigh the next steps, including a UN Security Council resolution that would bring new sanctions.

Ed Royce, R-Calif., says sanctions the House is poised to pass on North Korea will hopefully bring the country back to the negotiating table on nuclear weapons.

Politicians said they wanted to make Washington’s resolve clear, but also to the United Nations and other governments, especially China, North Korea’s lone major ally and main business partner.

The legislation would sanction anyone who engages in, facilitates or contributes to North Korea’s proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, arms-related materials, luxury goods, human rights abuses, activities undermining cyber security and the provision of materials for such activities.