VEASEY: North Korea Cannot Keep Using U.S. Visitors As Bargaining Chips

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Marc Veasey, TX-33, member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after cosponsoring H.R. 2732, the North Korea Travel Control Act, which would require the Treasury Department to issue regulations requiring a license for transactions related to travel to, from, and within North Korea by American citizens:

"North Korea's regime has a history of oppressing its citizens and violating the human rights of all those who are unfortunately found in its custody. Most recently, we have seen Kim Jong Un escalate his country's military aggression with an increase in ballistic missile testing and an outward disregard for Americans caught within North Korea's borders. The tragic loss of Otto Warmbier serves as a harrowing reminder that North Korea's willingness to use American visitors as bargaining chips cannot be tolerated. That is why I support the United States' efforts to limit travel to a country that poses a real and pressing threat to American interests and to the well-being of any American who visits. We must send a strong message to North Korea that they cannot continue to detain Americans without serious consequences."