Exposing a Rogue Regime

By U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

For years, North Korea has been determined to sustain its regime through intimidation and reckless behavior. From nuclear and ballistic missile tests to cyberattacks, the belligerence of Dictator Kim Jong-un demonstrates that this rogue nation is a serious threat to the region and U.S. national security.

Yet, as these threats have grown and continued, American foreign policy has lacked the firm resolve to curtail North Korea’s behavior.

In the Senate, I serve on the Armed Services Committee and chair its subcommittee on emerging threats. Our committee has closely tracked North Korea’s growing capabilities and repeatedly taken action to ensure our nation’s defense stays ahead of this threat. For example, in 2013, the committee authorized additional funding for the deployment of a long-range missile defense radar system. This technology, which is now under development, will improve our ability to track and intercept North Korean missiles. The committee has also authorized increased resources for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program. This is the interceptor system which defends the United States from ballistic missile attack.

Simply improving our nation’s defenses, however, does not address the source of the problem. Indeed, these efforts must be paired with a policy that uses the weight of U.S. economic and diplomatic influence to isolate the North Korean regime and those who do business with it.

This month, the Senate came together to take action. By a unanimous vote, the Senate passed the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act. The bill seeks to target the regime’s financial supporters and the hidden avenues that have subsidized its belligerence. It does this through greater enforcement of sanctions on their nuclear and ballistic missile programs. In addition, the bill codifies and expands sanctions against North Korea for its malicious cyberattacks and its egregious abuse of human rights.

Senators on both sides of the aisle are in agreement: the flow of resources that support this behavior must be stopped. The bill now heads to the president’s desk, where he is expected to sign it into law. Congress has acted, and I’m proud to have supported this important step toward better addressing threats to our national security.

However, Congress’s efforts are only part of the solution. It will soon be up to the president to implement the authority that Congress has given him. I believe the overwhelming bipartisan approval of this legislation demonstrates the support of the American people for a firmer policy toward North Korea. It is my hope that this bill galvanizes the president to hold the regime and its patrons accountable. More must also be done to improve cooperation with our allies in the region and make it clear to Russia and China that an irrational, nuclear-armed nation on the Korean peninsula is not in their best interest.

Congress must continue to conduct rigorous oversight and ensure that the administration acts on these sanctions. The security of our nation will always remain at the forefront of my priorities, and I am honored to continue this work.

Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer