Rep. Loretta Sanchez Statement on North Korea Nuclear Test

Press Release

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and member of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, released the following statement after North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test:

"This latest nuclear test is yet another step in North Korea's continuous efforts to destabilize the region and exacerbate tensions across the world. North Korea's reckless and incendiary behavior is unacceptable: as North Korea pursues nuclear capabilities it consistently violates U.N. resolutions, further isolates its people, and creates additional hostility and uncertainty in the international community."

"By strategically working with our regional and international partners we must meaningfully demonstrate that we will not tolerate North Korea's increasingly belligerent actions. We must continue to work with South Korea, Japan and China to address the growing threat posed by a nuclear North Korea."

Earlier this year, Rep. Sanchez voted to improve the enforcement of sanctions on North Korea. H.R. 757, the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2015, passed in both the House and Senate, strengthened current sanctions against North Korea, as well as authorized sanctions on any foreign and domestic individuals and entities involved in illegal transactions with North Korea.

Rep. Sanchez is committed to our nation's security and to securing a world free of nuclear weapons. As a member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Rep. Sanchez oversees our nation's strategic weapons, ballistic missile defense, space programs, and Department of Energy national security programs. Rep. Sanchez has been a strong and relentless advocate for nuclear nonproliferation efforts and the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). Rep. Sanchez has secured and restored funding for nonproliferation programs like the Stockpile Stewardship Program, Life Extension Programs, and the Global Threat Reduction Initiative--an essential program to reduce nuclear materials around the world.

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