South Korea yesterday imposed financial sanctions on seven individuals and organizations from Taiwan and Syria after they were linked to weapons trade with North Korea.
The list revealed by South Korean government officials included Taiwanese businessman Tsai Hsien-tai (蔡顯泰), also known as Alex Tsai, who was sentenced to two years in jail by a US court in March for his involvement in the supply of weapons-manufacturing machinery to North Korea, as well as Tsai’s wife, Su Lu-chi (蘇綠綺), and another Taiwanese man surnamed Chang (張).
Three Taiwanese companies were named: Global Interface Co (全球介面公司) and two subsiduaries, Trans Merits Co Ltd (跨優異股份有限公司) and Trans Multi Mechanics Co Ltd (台灣台中鳳笙有限公司).
Syria’s Scientific Studies and Research Center, a state-run institution that focuses on developing missiles, is also suspected of arms trade with North Korea, according to an official from the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who did not want to be named, citing office rules.
Any South Korean who trades with these sanctioned individuals or organizations without permission can be jailed for up to three years or fined up to US$268,000.
South Korea imposes the same sanctions on 32 individuals and organizations sanctioned by the UN Security Council over arms trade with North Korea.
The two Koreas remain technically in a state of war, split along the world’s most heavily fortified border, because the 1950-1953 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. Tensions between the countries have increased recently over the opening of a UN office in Seoul tasked with monitoring human rights in North Korea. The North has called the office a grave provocation.
North Korea’s Supreme Court on Tuesday sentenced two South Koreans to life in prison with labor after finding them guilty of spying for Seoul, a move analysts saw as retaliation over the opening of the UN office.
Additional reporting by CNA
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