US Senate votes for expanded sanctions on North Korea

The US Senate voted unanimously Wednesday to tighten economic sanctions on North Korea, seeking to punish the Asian nation for its provocative recent nuclear and missile tests.

The measure, which now must be reconciled with a similar House version that passed overwhelmingly last month, would slap sanctions on any person or entity who imports goods, technology or training related to weapons of mass destruction, or engages in human rights abuses, US lawmakers said.

It also is aimed at cutting down on money laundering and narcotics trafficking, two major illicit activities believed to funnel millions of dollars into the rogue regime. AFP