The government of North Korea, currently under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, launched a satellite into space on Sunday, which triggered international condemnation.
The Senate unanimously passed legislation on Wednesday aimed at imposing tougher sanctions on North Korea for violating international law in pursuing nuclear weapons.
The vote for the bipartisan bill, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez and Republican Sen. Cory Gardner, was 96-0.
The legislation, called the "North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act," has been passed in light of Pyongyang's announcement of its fourth nuclear test in early January and its recent satellite launch on Sunday. The act was condemned by international leaders as a possible global and regional threat.
The bill's new sanctions include sanctions against anyone who engages in North Korea's effort to produce nuclear weapons, human rights abuses, and cyber terrorism.
A majority of the bill's new sanctions are mandatory which is an infrequent measure taken by Congress. Mandatory sanctions force the president to impose the sanctions, giving no power of discretion to the administration. However, the president still maintains the right to turn down certain sanctions in cases of threat to national security.
The House of Representatives passed a similar legislation last month. According to the Chicago Tribune, Sen. Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee says that any inconsistencies between the two are expected to be easily settled and a final measure produced.
