Brownback Introduces Sanctions Bill in the Senate

Thomas still doesn’t have the text for S.1416, though it summarizes the bill as follows:

Title: A bill require [sic] the redesignation of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism, to impose sanctions with respect to North Korea, to require reports on the status of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and counterproliferation efforts, and for other purposes.

The bill has two co-sponsors, Kyl and Gregg, both Republicans, although it’s not clear how Democrats will react, given the administration’s mood:

“The North Korean regime, led by Kim Jong Il, for years has brutally oppressed its own citizens and terrorized other nations,” said Republican Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas, the legislation’s lead author.

“The United States must take bold, unequivocal action to hold this regime accountable and to end its reign of terror in North Korea,” said Brownback, a frequent and sharp critic of the regime, especially on human rights issues.

The legislation came as US President Barack Obama’s administration sought support for tough enforcement of UN sanctions aimed at shutting down Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs.  [AFP]

Kerry’s position, I suspect, will be to leave everything to President Obama.  But this bill — I’ve seen drafts, yes — contains some excellent tools that the administration could use to make its constriction policy a success.  I especially like this part:

It also directs the US Treasury Department to prohibit any US bank from doing business with a foreign bank seen as engaging in a financial transaction with the government of North Korea or one of its senior officials.

The bill also calls for the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, echoing a call by the State Department yesterday.  Drafts I’d seen called for the release of concentration camp prisoners and their reintegration into North Korean society.  It also calls for increasing our military cooperation with Japan and South Korea, though as I recall, not in any very specific way.

If Kerry is worried about undoing sanctions later, this bill is the least of his concerns.  First, what proved difficult to undo in February 2007 was banker’s near-universal fear of touching North Korean money.  Second, it’s really North Korea’s bad behavior that’s irreversible.  If that were to change suddenly and convincingly, there would be a clear consensus for lifting sanctions.

Check back later; I might have the text for you.