WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today applauded news that the Administration has redesignated North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism.

“North Korea has been redesignated a state sponsor of terrorism, and I applaud the Administration for taking this step,” said Brown. “Today’s decision is the direct result of bipartisan efforts this summer to require further sanctions on North Korea. We have recently offered another tough, new sanctions package that makes it clear we are serious about ramping up pressure on North Korea, to force its leaders to end its nuclear weapons program and halt its continuing human rights abuses – including those that took the life of Otto Warmbier.”

Brown is the ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee, which has jurisdiction over sanctions. A decision on today’s designation was required under the sanctions package Brown helped draft, which was signed into law in August. Now, Brown has offered a new bill, named in honor of Otto Warmbier, to expand and strengthen current U.S. sanctions on North Korea. Brown ushered Committee passage of the bill this month and now the legislation awaits action in the full Senate.

 

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