U.S. imposes sanctions on North Koreans, Russian, after missile tests
The United States on Wednesday sanctioned six North Koreans, one Russian and an entity it said were responsible for procuring goods for North Korea's weapons programs, a move that follows a series of North Korean missile launches, including two since last week.
The U.S. Treasury Department said the moves were in line with American efforts to prevent the advancement of North Korea's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs "and impede attempts by Pyongyang to proliferate related technologies." It said it followed six North Korean ballistic missile launches since September 2021, each of which it said violated multiple U.N. Security Council Resolutions.
In a statement, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said the moves targeted North Korea's "continued use of overseas representatives to illegally procure goods for weapons." He said North Korea's latest missile launches were "further evidence that it continues to advance prohibited programs despite the international community's calls for diplomacy and denuclearization."
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for a boosting of his country's strategic military forces as he observed the test of a hypersonic missile on Tuesday, North Korean state media said. The second test of a "hypersonic missile" in less than a week underscored Kim's New Year's vow to bolster the military with cutting-edge technology at a time when talks with South Korea and the United States have stalled.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
China top legislator Zhao says Beijing, Pyongyang set on developing friendly relations, KCNA says
A Chinese official meets North Korean leader Kim in Pyongyang in highest-level talks in years
North Korea leader Kim Jong Un says now is time to be ready for war, KCNA says
UPDATE 1-North Korea leader Kim Jong Un says now is time to be ready for war, KCNA says
"Now is time to be ready for war," says North Korea leader Kim Jong Un