The chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee has announced that one of his highest priorities for the new Congress will be to pass legislation aimed at strengthening sanctions on North Korea.

Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) made the planned legislation on North Korea among the top issues to pursue that also included passing a State Department Authorization bill, pressuring Iran to stop its "march toward nuclear weapons" and combating the militant Islamic State group.

Royce will introduce the North Korea legislation "in coming weeks" to "deny hard currency from the nuclear weapons-driven and human rights-abusing Kim regime," his office said in a statement, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Royce had introduced a similar bill in the previous Congress. That legislation passed through the House in July, but was ultimately scrapped after failing to pass through the Senate.

Efforts to tighten sanctions on the North gained traction after Pyongyang was found to be responsible for the cyber-attack on Sony Pictures. Early this month, the U.S. government announced new sanctions on Pyongyang, blacklisting three North Korean entities and 10 individuals. (Yonhap)