North Korea halts probe into fate of kidnapped Japanese

The Senate passed the legislation earlier this week. The launch, which came about a month after the country’s fourth nuclear test, was quickly condemned by world leaders as a potential threat to regional and global security.

The House on Friday easily cleared new sanctions on North Korea following a slate of recent provocative moves by that country that have sparked global worries.

The legislation also authorizes $50 million to transmit radio broadcasts into North Korea, purchase communications equipment and support humanitarian assistance programs.

Though China is not named directly, numerous secondary sanctions would likely squeeze Chinese institutions that do business with North Korea – or at least compel them to self-police and end certain ties with the North Korean regime.

In 2002, North Korea admitted to kidnapping 13 Japanese citizens in the 1970s and ’80s to train spies in Japanese language and culture.

Voting records have shown overwhelming bipartisan support for a tough response to Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile tests, which showed the regime has made strides in its efforts to develop nuclear missiles capable of reaching the U.S. U.S.-based experts have estimated that North Korea may have about 10 bombs, but that could grow to between 20 and 100 by 2020.

But Clapper said US intelligence has determined Pyongyang does want nuclear capabilities for purposes of deterrence, global prestige, and coercive diplomacy.

Require the Administration to investigate sanctionable conduct, including proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), arms-related materials, luxury goods, human rights abuses, activities undermining cyber security and the provision of industrial inputs such as precious metals or coal for use in a tailored set of activities, including WMD, proliferation activities, and prison and labor camps.

Prime minister Shinzo Abe’s administration “reapplied the sanctions which had been lifted and even took additional sanctions”, the committee statement said.