WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement today after the Senate voted 96-0 to pass the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act, which strengthens our nation’s ability to sanction North Korea:

“I am greatly concerned by the increasingly provocative actions taken by North Korea over the past few months in direct violation of UN Security Council Resolutions and international norms.  Its reported test of a nuclear weapon in early January, the launch this past weekend of a rocket with a range that could strike the U.S. west coast, and the detainment of U.S. citizens – including those with ties to Virginia – demonstrate North Korea’s continued determination to threaten global stability and U.S. interests.  I was pleased to see the Security Council condemn these actions, and I urge the Administration to work with our international partners to increase the effect of multilateral sanctions to make clear to North Korea that its actions have consequences.  As part of this effort, I voted for this bill to impose additional U.S. sanctions on North Korea and see it as a targeted way to compel Pyongyang to abide by international law and norms of behavior.”

The amended legislation now returns to the House of Representatives, which approved an earlier version of the legislation, for final consideration.