WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and former FBI supervisory special agent, released the following statement Monday:

“I strongly support the relisting of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism – an action I urged Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to take last month. North Korea is a totalitarian nation run by a madman willing to do anything to keep his power, including the brutal subjugation of his own people and the imprisonment and torture of foreigners – including Americans. Kim Jung Un’s desperate actions mixed with nuclear ambitions creates a direct threat to the safety and security of American families. Today’s move is an important step to keep up the pressure on this regime and avoid confrontation.”

Earlier this year, Fitzpatrick joined the House of Representatives this year in passing bipartisan measures to counter North Korea’s belligerent actions, including  H.R. 479 which urged the State Department to designate North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism.