Barack Obama signs North Korea sanctions: White House

One of the strictest measures in the bill is the secondary boycott clause, which targets individuals or entities in third countries that have financial dealings with North Korea.

U.S. President Barack Obama will sign a North Korea sanctions bill that has passed Congress with overwhelming support, the White House reaffirmed Wednesday, saying the legislation will serve the administration’s goal of increasing pressure on Pyongyang.

Last week, both the US Senate and House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation imposing additional sanctions on North Korea.

The increased sanctions, signed by lawmakers on Wednesday, are created to shut down North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s plans to finance the development of miniaturized nuclear warheads and the long-range missiles needed to deliver them, as reported by the Associated Press.

The unilateral US sanctions that Obama approved Thursday would freeze the assets of anyone doing business related to North Korea’s nuclear or weapons programs or is involved in human rights abuses in the country.

Looking to take a harder line after North Korea’s recent nuclear test and rocket launch, Seoul and Washington will begin talks soon on deploying a sophisticated USA missile defense system in South Korea.

“That is a goal that Congress stated and it’s a goal that we share”, he said.

Gardner, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific Affairs, said Obama’s signing of the legislation represents recognition that his “strategic patience policy has failed and we need a new direction to stop North Korea’s increasing belligerence”.

Tough new multilateral sanctions have been held up at the United Nations Security Council over disagreements between China and other nations.