Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, announced that on Tuesday, January 13 the Committee will convene a briefing to examine United States policy towards North Korea in the wake of its state-sanctioned cyberattack on the U.S.  The briefing entitled, “The North Korean Threat: Nuclear, Missiles and Cyber,” will begin at 10:00 a.m.

The briefing, which is open to the public and press, follows the Administration’s recent imposition of new sanctions against North Korea after the FBI determined that the country was responsible for the cyberattack against Sony Pictures.

Chairman Royce on the briefing:  “U.S. policy towards North Korea is at a critical point.  For years, the United States and our allies have been rightly concerned about the threat from North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.  Now, this brutal regime has added a new weapon to its arsenal: cyberattacks.  There can be no doubt that the Kim regime means America harm, and as we saw last month, Pyongyang can deliver on its threats.  After years of complacency and failed policies by successive Administrations, this briefing will examine the Administration’s efforts to curtail the cyber threat emanating from North Korea and secure our homeland.”

Note: Royce, who has visited North Korea, authored H.R. 1771, the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act.  He plans to introduce similar sanctions legislation this Congress.  The House of Representatives passed the bipartisan H.R. 1771 in July 2014.  The legislation strengthens existing sanctions against North Korea by prohibiting North Korea’s access to critical resources — such as hard currency and other goods — that keeps the Kim regime in power.  Importantly, the legislation holds North Korean officials accountable for gross human rights abuses, which were highlighted in the recent United Nations Commission of Inquiry.  In strengthening sanctions against North Korea, the legislation does not prohibit humanitarian aid.

What:

Briefing:  “The North Korean Threat: Nuclear, Missiles and Cyber”

When:

10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 13

Where:

2172 Rayburn House Office Building

Briefers:

The Honorable Sung Kim
Special Representative for North Korea Policy and
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Korea and Japan
U.S. Department of State

The Honorable Daniel Glaser
Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing
Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence
U.S. Department of the Treasury

Brigadier General Gregory J. Touhill, USAF, Retired
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity Operations and Programs
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

***See foreignaffairs.house.gov for updates.

***Coverage note:  The briefing is open to the public and press.  All Foreign Affairs Committee proceedings are webcast live at foreignaffairs.house.gov/live-video-feed.

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