U.S. senators offer North Korea sanctions bill, backed by Warmbier parents

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

WORLD NEWS MARCH 5, 2019 / 4:56 PM / UPDATED 3 HOURS AGO

U.S. senators offer North Korea sanctions bill, backed by Warmbier parents

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two U.S. senators sought to dial up pressure on North Korea on Tuesday by reintroducing a bill to impose sanctions on any bank that does business with its government, with the endorsement of the parents of Otto Warmbier, a U.S. college student who died after being imprisoned by Pyongyang.

Republican Senator Pat Toomey and Democrat Chris Van Hollen offered the “Otto Warmbier Banking Restrictions Involving North Korea (BRINK) Act” days after a summit between Republican President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was abruptly cut off after they failed to reach a deal for the reclusive communist nation to give up its nuclear weapons.

After the summit, Trump said he believed Kim’s claim not to have known how Otto Warmbier was treated, prompting his parents to issue a sharp statement strongly condemning Kim’s “evil regime” and blaming it for their son’s death.

In a statement, Fred and Cindy Warmbier thanked van Hollen and Toomey, and said they believed the legislation would provide useful tools to help change North Korea.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-usa-sanctions/u-s-senators-offer-north-korea-sanctions-bill-backed-by-warmbier-parents-idUSKCN1QM2NI

[atreides1]

1. Okay

But will it pass Congress with a veto proof majority?

[RockRaven]

2. The Magnitsky Act did, albeit with a POTUS who wanted to sign it rather than an adversarial one

My impression is that the Senate and House GOPers would be willing to defy Trump on something like this if they are part of a huge crowd -- like on the order of 80-90% -- but they don't want to be part of a small handful who swung the outcome if it is close.

I think even MAGAts are having a hard time absolving North Korea/Kim of his death, and Trump tried to engage in some gymnastics to dodge the blowback to his comments without actually backtracking/admitting he was wrong.

If the bill originated in the House, I think passing with a supermajority would be harder. But I think it at least possible that the Senate could pass such a bill with 90+ votes like they did Magnitsky, and that would clear the way for House GOPers to vote for it without voting for a "Pelosi" or "Dem" bill. And, as with Russia sanctions in 2017, if the bill passes with a clear supermajority, Trump won't veto to avoid the embarrassment of having a veto over-ridden. However, as with Russia sanctions, getting the executive branch to actually enact the law as written will remain a problem even if Trump signs it.

[soryang]

3. Hardliners in control

Now that many of the critics of that initiative have got what they wanted—a tougher approach to North Korea—they have to accept the consequences, whatever they may be.

What Happened in Hanoi?
BY: JOEL S. WIT AND JENNY TOWN

https://www.38north.org/2019/02/editor022819/

*38 North is a website devoted to informed analysis of North Korea.