US President Obama signs North Korea sanctions

President Barack Obama signed new sanctions on North Korea into law Thursday, punishing the regime for its nuclear and missile tests as well as for suspected cyber-hacking incidents.

The unilateral USA sanctions 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.

Both actions led to worldwide condemnation of the reclusive country and fueled fears that it continues to move toward building an atomic arsenal.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry on Friday welcomed the effectuation of a USA law that hits North Korea with a package of stringent sanctions, anticipating it will help curb Pyongyang’s provocative behavior.

Obama signed the legislation away from the news media and issued no statement.

He also underscored the need to successfully launch “more working satellites”, Pyongyang’s KCNA news agency said.

The United States, along with Asian allies South Korean and Japan, are spearheading efforts at the UN Security Council for a strong resolution that will impose harsh sanctions on Pyongyang over the recent nuclear test and rocket launch.

China has said some of the measures could cripple North Korea’s economy.

The new measures are meant to deny North Korea the money it needs to develop miniaturized warheads and the long-range missiles required to deliver them. The sanctions also called for $50 million dollars to be invested in radio communications in North Korea, anti-terrorism programs within the region, and purchase of communication devices within North Korea.

Lawmakers voted less than two weeks after North Korea announced that it had launched a rocket that carried a satellite into space.

This is all despite the rising tensions between North Korea and the global community. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article. “That is a goal that Congress stated and it s a goal that we share”.