U.S. Targets China-Based Network for Aiding North Korean Missile and Space Programs

The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on a network based in China for aiding North Korea's ballistic missile and space programs. The network, known as the Shi Qianpei network, includes six individuals and five companies involved in procuring materials in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The United States imposed sanctions Wednesday on a China-based network for aiding North Korea's development of ballistic missile and space programs, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.

The so-called Shi Qianpei network comprises six individuals and five companies that have been involved in procuring items to support these programs, in breach of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, the department said. North Korea depends on foreign-sourced materials and components for its weapons of mass destruction programs, using various networks of procurement agents overseas. Many foreign companies purchasing the necessary items repackage them for shipment to North Korea, disguising the end-use from manufacturers.

Shi Qianpei, a Chinese national, plays a crucial role as a key facilitator within this network.