So Much for a DPRK-Friendly Congress

They’re only bills, so I wouldn’t make too much of them yet ….

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (Yonhap) — U.S. legislators resubmitted resolutions to the new Congress demanding the return of an American naval vessel seized by North Korea and imposition of higher tariffs on imports from non-market economies, including the communist country.

Rep. John Salazar (D-Colorado) introduced House Resolution 91 dated Jan. 23 that calls for the return of the U.S.S. Pueblo, a 906-ton naval intelligence ship which was attacked and captured by North Korea in January 1968. One American sailor was killed in the assault and 82 others were held prisoners for 11 months before they were returned to the U.S.

Pyongyang continues to use the vessel for propaganda purposes by opening it to large group tours in an attempt to disgrace the U.S. and drum up nationalism.

It’s hard to imagine anyone voting against that one if it makes it to the floor.  The Democratic sponsorship is a good sign.

House Resolution 571, submitted by Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colorado) on Jan. 18, urges the U.S. to levy additional [OFK note:  5% ad valorem] tariffs on products from any country with a non-market economy until the president certifies to the Congress that the country in question has changed to a market economy.

Tancredo has been a stalwart for human rights in North Korea and China.  He’s probably not a bellwether of the current thinking in Congress, but an anti-trade / anti-dictatorship coalition has the potential to pass bills.