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Pub. L.
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Title II — Sanctions Against North Korean Proliferation, Human Rights Abuses, and Illicit Activities

114th Congress · Approved Feb 18, 2016 · 130 Stat. 93

TITLE II Sanctions Against North Korean Proliferation, Human Rights Abuses, and Illicit Activities

SEC. 201. Determinations with Respect to North Korea as a Jurisdiction of Primary Money Laundering Concern.

(a)
Findings.— Congress makes the following findings:
(1)
The Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, who is responsible for safeguarding the financial system against illicit use, money laundering, terrorist financing, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and has repeatedly expressed concern about North Korea’s misuse of the international financial system—
(A)
in 2006—
(i)
stated, “Given [North Korea’s] counterfeiting of U.S. currency, narcotics trafficking and use of accounts world-wide to conduct proliferation-related transactions, the line between illicit and licit North Korean money is nearly invisible.”; and
(ii)
urged financial institutions worldwide to “think carefully about the risks of doing any North Korea-related business”;
(B)
in 2011, stated that North Korea—
(i)
“remains intent on engaging in proliferation, selling arms as well as bringing in material”; and
(ii)
was “aggressively pursuing the effort to establish front companies.”; and
(C)
in 2013, stated—
(i)
in reference to North Korea’s distribution of high-quality counterfeit United States currency, that “North Korea is continuing to try to pass a supernote into the international financial system”; and
(ii)
the Department of the Treasury would soon introduce new currency with improved security features to protect against counterfeiting by the Government of North Korea.
(2)
The Financial Action Task Force, an intergovernmental body whose purpose is to develop and promote national and international policies to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, has repeatedly—
(A)
expressed concern at deficiencies in North Korea’s regimes to combat money laundering and terrorist financing;
(B)
urged North Korea to adopt a plan of action to address significant deficiencies in those regimes and the serious threat those deficiencies pose to the integrity of the international financial system;
(C)
urged all jurisdictions to apply countermeasures to protect the international financial system from ongoing and substantial money laundering and terrorist financing risks emanating from North Korea;
(D)
urged all jurisdictions to advise their financial institutions to give special attention to business relationships and transactions with North Korea, including North Korean companies and financial institutions; and
(E)
called on all jurisdictions—
(i)
to protect against correspondent relationships being used to bypass or evade countermeasures and risk mitigation practices; and
(ii)
to take into account money laundering and terrorist financing risks when considering requests by North Korean financial institutions to open branches and subsidiaries in their respective jurisdictions.
(3)
On March 7, 2013, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2094, which—
(A)
welcomed the Financial Action Task Force’s—
(i)
recommendation on financial sanctions related to proliferation; and
(ii)
guidance on the implementation of such sanctions;
(B)
decided that United Nations member states should apply enhanced monitoring and other legal measures to prevent the provision of financial services or the transfer of property that could contribute to activities prohibited by applicable United Nations Security Council resolutions; and
(C)
called upon United Nations member states to prohibit North Korean financial institutions from establishing or maintaining correspondent relationships with financial institutions in their respective jurisdictions to prevent the provision of financial services if such member states have information that provides reasonable grounds to believe that such activities could contribute to—
(i)
activities prohibited by an applicable United Nations Security Council resolution; or
(ii)
the evasion of such prohibitions.
(b)
Sense of Congress Regarding the Designation of North Korea as a Jurisdiction of Primary Money Laundering Concern.— Congress—
(1)
acknowledges the efforts of the United Nations Security Council to impose limitations on, and to require the enhanced monitoring of, transactions involving North Korean financial institutions that could contribute to sanctioned activities;
(2)
urges the President, in the strongest terms—
(A)
to immediately designate North Korea as a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern; and
(B)
to adopt stringent special measures to safeguard the financial system against the risks posed by North Korea’s willful evasion of sanctions and its illicit activities; and
(3)
urges the President to seek the prompt implementation by other countries of enhanced monitoring and due diligence to prevent North Korea’s misuse of the international financial system, including by sharing information about activities, transactions, and property that could contribute to—
(A)
activities sanctioned by applicable United Nations Security Council resolutions; or
(B)
the evasion of such sanctions.
(c)
Determinations Regarding North Korea.—
(1)
In general.— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, and in accordance with section 5318A of title 31, United States Code, shall determine whether reasonable grounds exist for concluding that North Korea is a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern.
(2)
Enhanced due diligence and reporting requirements.— If the Secretary of the Treasury determines under paragraph (1) that reasonable grounds exist for concluding that North Korea is a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern, the Secretary, in consultation with the Federal functional regulators (as defined in section 509 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. 6809)), shall impose 1 or more of the special measures described in section 5318A(b) of title 31, United States Code, with respect to the jurisdiction of North Korea.
(3)
Report required.—
(A)
In general.— Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary of the Treasury makes a determination under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that contains the reasons for such determination.
(B)
Form.— The report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

SEC. 202. Ensuring the Consistent Enforcement of United Nations Security Council Resolutions and Financial Restrictions on North Korea.

(a)
Findings.— Congress makes the following findings:
(1)
All member states of the United Nations are obligated to implement and enforce applicable United Nations Security Council resolutions fully and promptly, including by blocking the property of, and ensuring that any property is prevented from being made available to, persons designated for the blocking of property by the Security Council under applicable United Nations Security Council resolutions.
(2)
As of May 2015, 158 of the 193 member states of the United Nations had not submitted reports on measures taken to implement North Korea-specific United Nations Security Council resolutions 1718, 1874, and 2094.
(3)
A recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO–15–485)—
(A)
finds that officials of the United States and representatives of the United Nations Panel of Experts established pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1874 (2009), which monitors and facilitates implementation of United Nations sanctions on North Korea, “agree that the lack of detailed reports from all member states is an impediment to the UN’s effective implementation of its sanctions”; and
(B)
notes that “many member states lack the technical capacity to enforce sanctions and prepare reports” on the implementation of United Nations sanctions on North Korea.
(4)
All member states share a common interest in protecting the international financial system from the risks of money laundering and illicit transactions emanating from North Korea.
(5)
The United States dollar and the euro are the world’s principal reserve currencies, and the United States and the European Union are primarily responsible for the protection of the international financial system from the risks described in paragraph (4).
(6)
The cooperation of the People’s Republic of China, as North Korea’s principal trading partner, is essential to—
(A)
the enforcement of applicable United Nations Security Council resolutions; and
(B)
the protection of the international financial system.
(7)
The report of the Panel of Experts expressed concern about the ability of banks to detect and prevent illicit transfers involving North Korea if such banks are located in member states with less effective regulators or member states that are unable to afford effective compliance.
(8)
North Korea has historically exploited inconsistencies between jurisdictions in the interpretation and enforcement of financial regulations and applicable United Nations Security Council resolutions to circumvent sanctions and launder the proceeds of illicit activities.
(9)
Amroggang Development Bank, Bank of East Land, and Tanchon Commercial Bank have been designated by the Secretary of the Treasury, the United Nations Security Council, and the European Union as having materially contributed to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
(10)
Korea Daesong Bank and Korea Kwangson Banking Corporation have been designated by the Secretary of the Treasury and the European Union as having materially contributed to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
(11)
The Foreign Trade Bank of North Korea has been designated by the Secretary of the Treasury for facilitating transactions on behalf of persons linked to its proliferation network and for serving as “a key financial node”.
(12)
Daedong Credit Bank has been designated by the Secretary of the Treasury for activities prohibited by applicable United Nations Security Council resolutions, including the use of deceptive financial practices to facilitate transactions on behalf of persons linked to North Korea’s proliferation network.
(b)
Sense of Congress.— It is the sense of Congress that the President should intensify diplomatic efforts in appropriate international fora, such as the United Nations, and bilaterally, to develop and implement a coordinated, consistent, multilateral strategy for protecting the global financial system against risks emanating from North Korea, including—
(1)
the cessation of any financial services the continuation of which is inconsistent with applicable United Nations Security Council resolutions;
(2)
the cessation of any financial services to persons, including financial institutions, that present unacceptable risks of facilitating money laundering and illicit activity by the Government of North Korea;
(3)
the blocking by all member states, in accordance with the legal process of the state in which the property is held, of any property required to be blocked under applicable United Nations Security Council resolutions;
(4)
the blocking of any property derived from illicit activity, or from the misappropriation, theft, or embezzlement of public funds by, or for the benefit of, officials of the Government of North Korea;
(5)
the blocking of any property involved in significant activities undermining cybersecurity by the Government of North Korea, directly or indirectly, against United States persons, or the theft of intellectual property by the Government of North Korea, directly or indirectly from United States persons; and
(6)
the blocking of any property of persons directly or indirectly involved in censorship or human rights abuses by the Government of North Korea.
(c)
Strategy to Improve International Implementation and Enforcement of United Nations North Korea-specific Sanctions.— The President shall direct the Secretary of State, in coordination with other Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate, to develop a strategy to improve international implementation and enforcement of United Nations North Korea-specific sanctions. The strategy should include elements—
(1)
to increase the number of countries submitting reports to the United Nations Panel of Experts established pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1874 (2009), including developing a list of targeted countries where effective implementation and enforcement of United Nations sanctions would reduce the threat from North Korea;
(2)
to encourage member states of the United Nations to cooperate and share information with the panel in order to help facilitate investigations;
(3)
to expand cooperation with the Panel of Experts;
(4)
to provide technical assistance to member states to implement United Nations sanctions, including developing the capacity to enforce sanctions through improved export control regulations, border security, and customs systems;
(5)
to harness existing United States Government initiatives and assistance programs, as appropriate, to improve sanctions implementation and enforcement; and
(6)
to increase outreach to the people of North Korea, and to support the engagement of independent, non-governmental journalistic, humanitarian, and other institutions in North Korea.
(d)
Report Required.— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that describes the actions undertaken to implement the strategy required by subsection (c).

SEC. 203. Proliferation Prevention Sanctions.

(a)
Export of Certain Goods or Technology.— A validated license shall be required for the export to North Korea of any goods or technology otherwise covered under section 6(j) of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. 4605(j)). No defense exports may be approved for the Government of North Korea.
(b)
Transactions in Lethal Military Equipment.—
(1)
In general.— The President shall withhold assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) to the government of any country that provides lethal military equipment to the Government of North Korea.
(2)
Applicability.— The prohibition under paragraph (1) with respect to a government shall terminate on the date that is 1 year after the date on which the prohibition under paragraph (1) is applied to that government.
(c)
Waiver.— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of State may waive the prohibitions under this section with respect to a country if the Secretary—
(1)
determines that such waiver is in the national interest of the United States; and
(2)
submits a written report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes—
(A)
the steps that the relevant agencies are taking to curtail the trade described in subsection (b)(1); and
(B)
why such waiver is in the national interest of the United States.
(d)
Exception.— The prohibitions under this section shall not apply to the provision of assistance for human rights, democracy, rule of law, or emergency humanitarian purposes.

SEC. 204. Procurement Sanctions.

(a)
In General.— Except as provided in this section, the head of an executive agency may not procure, or enter into any contract for the procurement of, any goods or services from any person designated under section 104(a).
(b)
Federal Acquisition Regulation.—
(1)
In general.— The Federal Acquisition Regulation issued pursuant to section 1303(a)(1) of title 41, United States Code, shall be revised to require that each person that is a prospective contractor submit a certification that such person does not engage in any activity described in section 104(a).
(2)
Applicability.— The revision required under paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to contracts for which solicitations are issued on or after the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c)
Remedies.—
(1)
Inclusion on list.— The Administrator of General Services shall include, on the List of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement and Nonprocurement Programs maintained by the Administrator under part 9 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, each person that is debarred, suspended, or proposed for debarment or suspension by the head of an executive agency on the basis of a determination of a false certification under subsection (b).
(2)
Contract termination; suspension.— If the head of an executive agency determines that a person has submitted a false certification under subsection (b) after the date on which the Federal Acquisition Regulation is revised to implement the requirements of this section, the head of such executive agency shall—
(A)
terminate any contract with such person; and
(B)
debar or suspend such person from eligibility for Federal contracts for a period of not longer than 2 years.
(3)
Applicable procedures.— Any debarment or suspension under paragraph (2)(B) shall be subject to the procedures that apply to debarment and suspension under subpart 9.4 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
(d)
Clarification Regarding Certain Products.— The remedies specified in subsection (c) shall not apply with respect to the procurement of any eligible product (as defined in section 308(4) of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (19 U.S.C. 2518(4)) of any foreign country or instrumentality designated under section 301(b) of such Act (19 U.S.C. 2511(b)).
(e)
Rule of Construction.— Nothing in this subsection may be construed to limit the use of other remedies available to the head of an executive agency or any other official of the Federal Government on the basis of a determination of a false certification under subsection (b).
(f)
Executive Agency Defined.— In this section, the term “executive agency” has the meaning given such term in section 133 of title 41, United States Code.

SEC. 205. Enhanced Inspection Authorities.

(a)
Report Required.— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that identifies foreign ports and airports at which inspections of ships, aircraft, and conveyances originating in North Korea, carrying North Korean property, or operated by the Government of North Korea are not sufficient to effectively prevent the facilitation of any of the activities described in section 104(a).
(b)
Enhanced Customs Inspection Requirements.— The Secretary of Homeland Security may require enhanced inspections of any goods entering the United States that have been transported through a port or airport identified by the President under subsection (a).
(c)
Seizure and Forfeiture.— A vessel, aircraft, or conveyance used to facilitate any of the activities described in section 104(a) under the jurisdiction of the United States may be seized and forfeited under—
(1)
chapter 46 of title 18, United States Code; or
(2)
title V of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.).

SEC. 206. Travel Sanctions.

The Secretary of State may deny a visa to, and the Secretary of Homeland Security may deny entry into the United States of, any alien who is—
(1)
a designated person;
(2)
a corporate officer of a designated person; or
(3)
a principal shareholder with a controlling interest in a designated person.

SEC. 207. Travel Recommendations for United States Citizens to North Korea.

The Secretary of State shall expand the scope and frequency of issuance of travel warnings for all United States citizens to North Korea. The expanded travel warnings, which should be issued or updated not less frequently than every 90 days, should include—
(1)
publicly released or credible open source information regarding the detention of United States citizens by North Korean authorities, including available information on circumstances of arrest and detention, duration, legal proceedings, and conditions under which a United States citizen has been, or continues to be, detained by North Korean authorities, including present-day cases and cases occurring during the 10-year period ending on the date of the enactment of this Act;
(2)
publicly released or credible open source information on the past and present detention and abduction or alleged abduction of citizens of the United States, South Korea, or Japan by North Korean authorities;
(3)
unclassified information about the nature of the North Korean regime, as described in congressionally mandated reports and annual reports issued by the Department of State and the United Nations, including information about North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction programs, illicit activities, international sanctions violations, and human rights situation; and
(4)
any other information that the Secretary deems useful to provide United States citizens with a comprehensive picture of the nature of the North Korean regime.

SEC. 208. Exemptions, Waivers, and Removals of Designation.

(a)
Exemptions.— The following activities shall be exempt from sanctions under sections 104, 206, 209, and 304:
(1)
Activities subject to the reporting requirements under title V of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.), or to any authorized intelligence activities of the United States.
(2)
Any transaction necessary to comply with United States obligations under the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, or under the Convention on Consular Relations, done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into force March 19, 1967, or under other international agreements.
(3)
Any activities incidental to the POW/MIA accounting mission in North Korea, including activities by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and other governmental or nongovernmental organizations tasked with identifying or recovering the remains of members of the United States Armed Forces in North Korea.
(b)
Humanitarian Waiver.—
(1)
In general.— The President may waive, for renewable periods of between 30 days and 1 year, the application of the sanctions authorized under section 104, 204, 205, 206, 209(b), or 304(b) if the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees a written determination that the waiver is necessary for humanitarian assistance or to carry out the humanitarian purposes set forth section 4 of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7802).
(2)
Content of written determination.— A written determination submitted under paragraph (1) with respect to a waiver shall include a description of all notification and accountability controls that have been employed in order to ensure that the activities covered by the waiver are humanitarian assistance or are carried out for the purposes set forth in section 4 of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7802) and do not entail any activities in North Korea or dealings with the Government of North Korea not reasonably related to humanitarian assistance or such purposes.
(3)
Clarification of permitted activities under waiver.— An internationally recognized humanitarian organization shall not be subject to sanctions under section 104, 204, 205, 206, 209(b), or 304(b) for—
(A)
engaging in a financial transaction relating to humanitarian assistance or for humanitarian purposes pursuant to a waiver issued under paragraph (1);
(B)
transporting goods or services that are necessary to carry out operations relating to humanitarian assistance or humanitarian purposes pursuant to such a waiver; or
(C)
having merely incidental contact, in the course of providing humanitarian assistance or aid for humanitarian purposes pursuant to such a waiver, with individuals who are under the control of a foreign person subject to sanctions under this Act.
(c)
Waiver.— The President may waive, on a case-by-case basis, for renewable periods of between 30 days and 1 year, the application of the sanctions authorized under section 104, 201(c)(2), 204, 205, 206, 209(b), or 304(b) if the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees a written determination that the waiver—
(1)
is important to the national security interests of the United States; or
(2)
will further the enforcement of this Act or is for an important law enforcement purpose.
(d)
Financial Services for Humanitarian and Consular Activities.— The President may promulgate such regulations, rules, and policies as may be necessary to facilitate the provision of financial services by a foreign financial institution that is not a North Korean financial institution in support of activities conducted pursuant to an exemption or waiver under this section.

SEC. 209. Report on and Imposition of Sanctions to Address Persons Responsible for Knowingly Engaging in Significant Activities Undermining Cybersecurity.

(a)
Report Required.—
(1)
In general.— The President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that describes significant activities undermining cybersecurity aimed against the United States Government or any United States person and conducted by the Government of North Korea, or a person owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Government of North Korea or any person acting for or on behalf of that Government.
(2)
Information.— The report required under paragraph (1) shall include—
(A)
the identity and nationality of persons that have knowingly engaged in, directed, or provided material support to conduct significant activities undermining cybersecurity described in paragraph (1);
(B)
a description of the conduct engaged in by each person identified;
(C)
an assessment of the extent to which a foreign government has provided material support to the Government of North Korea or any person acting for or on behalf of that Government to conduct significant activities undermining cybersecurity; and
(D)
a United States strategy to counter North Korea’s efforts to conduct significant activities undermining cybersecurity against the United States, that includes efforts to engage foreign governments to halt the capability of the Government of North Korea and persons acting for or on behalf of that Government to conduct significant activities undermining cybersecurity.
(3)
Submission and form.—
(A)
Submission.— The report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter.
(B)
Form.— The report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
(b)
Designation of Persons.— The President shall designate under section 104(a) any person identified in the report required under subsection (a)(1) that knowingly engages in significant activities undermining cybersecurity through the use of computer networks or systems against foreign persons, governments, or other entities on behalf of the Government of North Korea.

SEC. 210. Codification of Sanctions with Respect to North Korean Activities Undermining Cybersecurity.

(a)
In General.— United States sanctions with respect to activities of the Government of North Korea, persons acting for or on behalf of that Government, or persons located in North Korea that undermine cybersecurity provided for in Executive Order 13687 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to imposing additional sanctions with respect to North Korea) or Executive Order 13694 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking the property of certain persons engaging in significant malicious cyber-enabled activities), as such Executive Orders are in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, shall remain in effect until the date that is 30 days after the date on which the President submits to Congress a certification that the Government of North Korea, persons acting for or on behalf of that Government, and persons owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Government or persons acting for or on behalf of that Government, are no longer engaged in the illicit activities described in such Executive Orders, including actions in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2087 (2013), and 2094 (2013).
(b)
Rule of Construction.— Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the President pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).

SEC. 211. Sense of Congress on Trilateral Cooperation Between the United States, South Korea, and Japan.

(a)
In General.— It is the sense of Congress that the President—
(1)
should seek to strengthen high-level trilateral mechanisms for discussion and coordination of policy toward North Korea between the Government of the United States, the Government of South Korea, and the Government of Japan;
(2)
should ensure that the mechanisms specifically address North Korea’s nuclear, ballistic, and conventional weapons programs, its human rights record, and cybersecurity threats posed by North Korea;
(3)
should ensure that representatives of the United States, South Korea, and Japan meet on a regular basis and include representatives of the United States Department of State, the United States Department of Defense, the United States intelligence community, and representatives of counterpart agencies in South Korea and Japan; and
(4)
should continue to brief the relevant congressional committees regularly on the status of such discussions.
(b)
Relevant Committees.— The relevant committees referred to in subsection (a)(4) shall include—
(1)
the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
(2)
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.