The US, Japan and South Korea have imposed fresh sanctions on North Korean individuals and entities in response to Pyongyang’s recent slew of missile tests.
The US on Thursday blocked any assets of three North Korean officials in the US, a largely symbolic step against an isolated country that has defied international pressure over its weapons programs.
The US Department of the Treasury also threatened sanctions against anyone who conducts transactions with North Korean Lieutenant General Jon Il-ho, Workers’ Party of Korea munitions industry department head Yu Jin and North Korean army general political bureau head Kim Su-gil, who were identified as directly involved in weapons development.
Photo: REUTERS
North Korean missile launches since September, including the test of an intercontinental ballistic missile with the range to hit the US mainland, “pose grave security risks to the region and entire world,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
The sanctions “underscore our sustained resolve to promote accountability in response to Pyongyang’s pace, scale and scope of ballistic missile launches.”
The action was taken in coordination with US allies South Korea and Japan, Blinken said, adding that the EU in April issued similar designations of the three officials.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Tokyo and Seoul yesterday also announced new sanctions.
South Korea said it would target eight individuals, including a Taiwanese and a Singaporean national.
They have “contributed to North Korea’s nuclear and missile development and evasion of [pre-existing] sanctions,” the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
All are already subject to US sanctions, the ministry said, adding that South Korea’s new restrictions are expected to “alert the domestic and international community of the risks of transactions with these entities.”
Japan said that in response to Pyongyang’s “provocative acts,” it was freezing the assets of three North Korean companies — Korea Haegumgang Trading Corp, Korea Namgang Trading Corp and Lazarus Group — and one person, Kim Su-il.
The US has voiced frustration that China, North Korea’s closest ally, and Russia have blocked efforts at the UN Security Council to impose tougher sanctions.
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