Again US acts tough against North Korea’s ongoing development of ballistic missiles; blacklists two senior officials

Washington, December 27: Taking a stringent action on Tuesday, the United States sanctioned two individuals in response to North Korea’s ongoing development of ballistic missiles. However, this is not the first time when the US has put sanctions North Korean nationals.

 

Notably, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned two individuals in response to North Korea’s ongoing development of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their means of delivery in continued violation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs).

OFAC sanctioned two senior officials of the UN- and U.S.-designated WPK Munitions Industry Department (MID), Kim Jong Sik and Ri Pyong Chol, who were listed in UNSCR 2397 of December 22, 2017. The MID is responsible for overseeing North Korea’s ballistic missile programs and was sanctioned by the US Department of State in 2010 pursuant to E.O. 13382. Kim Jong Sik reportedly is a key figure in North Korea’s ballistic missile development, including efforts to switch from liquid to solid fuel, and Ri Pyong Chol is reported to be a key official involved in North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile development.

The sanctions target key leaders of North Korea’s unlawful weapons programs as highlighted in the recently adopted UNSCR 2397 of December 22. As a result of this action, any property or interests in property of those designated by OFAC within US jurisdiction are blocked, and transactions by US persons involving the designated persons are generally prohibited.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said, “Treasury is targeting leaders of North Korea’s ballistic missile programs, as part of our maximum pressure campaign to isolate the DPRK and achieve a fully denuclearized Korean Peninsula.” “These actions follow Friday’s United Nations Security Council Resolution, which imposed strong new sanctions on North Korea further shutting down its ability to raise illicit funds,” he added.

Earlier, in the month of November this year, US imposed new sanctions on North Korean shipping firms and Chinese trading companies who were accused of helping North Korea to escape nuclear restrictions against Pyongyang.

Importantly, the year 2017 has seen a series of resolutions on North Korea but the year ends with very harsh sanction on the country hoping better effect. The United Nations Security Council imposed new sanctions on North Korea in the wake of its continued nuclear and ballistic weapons programme, including the ballistic missile launch on 28 November of this year.

BACKGROUND:

North Korea always threatens the United States and Japan with its nuclear weapons programme and testing of ballistic missiles. Therefore, the United States financially blocked North Korea over its nuclear weapons programme and testing of ballistic missiles. The Trump administration with an aim to pressurize North Korea and its allies has already announced economic sanctions against Pyongyang, blacklisting many banks and individuals in several countries.