U.S. House set to discuss tougher sanctions on N. Korea

After a year-long delay, the U.S. House will start formal work this week on proposed legislation calling for tougher sanctions on North Korea's Kim Jong-un regime, congressional sources said Tuesday.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee plans to hold a "markup" of the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2013 on Thursday, they said. Markup refers to a process by which a congressional committee amends proposed legislation.

The bill, H.R. 1771, directs the president to investigate credible information of sanctionable activities involving North Korea. It is especially designed to make it more difficult for the communist regime to secure hard currency for the development of weapons of mass destruction.

"In order to achieve the peaceful disarmament of North Korea, Congress finds that it is necessary...to deny the Government of North Korea access to the funds it uses to obtain nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and luxury goods instead of providing for the needs of its people," reads the bill.

It was proposed by Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), chairman of the House committee, in April 2013.

Royce, known for his longtime efforts to address Korea-related issues, has since endeavored to broaden support for his initiative on Capitol Hill. The bill is now co-sponsored by 138 other lawmakers.

Pyongyang's continued military threats and a recent report by the U.N. Commission of Inquiry on human rights conditions in the nation have raised concerns among U.S. lawmakers, according to aides to Royce.

But it remains uncertain whether the bill will be approved by both the House and Senate. (Yonhap)