TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HITS NORTH KOREA WITH NEW SANCTIONS
‘The U.S. government is targeting illicit
actors in China, Russia, and elsewhere…’ Secretary of the Treasury
Steven T. Mnuchin says
BY
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
The Trump administration imposed new sanctions Wednesday targeting North Korea’s weapons programs.A press release from the U.S. Department of the Treasury states that “nine entities, 16 individuals, and six vessels” have been sanctioned in an attempt to deter Pyongyang’s missile, chemical and nuclear weapons programs.
“Today’s sanctions target agents of the Kim regime financing or otherwise supporting North Korea’s WMD programs and other illicit businesses,” the press release says. “As a result of today’s action, any property or interests in property of the designated persons in the possession or control of U.S. persons or within the United States must be blocked, and U.S. persons are prohibited from dealing with any of the designated parties.”
According to Secretary of the Treasury Steven T. Mnuchin, North Koreans operating primarily in China and Russia are among the 16 individuals accused of aiding Kim Jong Un’s government.
“Treasury continues to systematically target individuals and entities financing the Kim regime and its weapons programs, including officials complicit in North Korean sanctions evasion schemes,” Mnuchin said. “Pursuant to UN Security Council Resolutions, the U.S. government is targeting illicit actors in China, Russia, and elsewhere who are working on behalf of North Korean financial networks, and calling for their expulsion from the territories where they reside.”
Approximately 11 representatives with Korea Ryonbong General Corporation were named for supporting Pyongyang’s military-related sales believed to aid, among other things, North Korea’s chemical weapons program.
“Many of these individuals are located at Ryonbong representative offices in China near the China-North Korean border, where they support the regime in a variety of ways,” the press release adds.
The other 5 individuals were said to be linked to North Korea’s financial networks while several businesses in China were sanctioned for importing and exporting tens of millions of dollars worth of goods to and from North Korea between 2013 and 2017.
President Trump in recent months has accused both Russia and China of helping Pyongyang skirt sanctions.
Trump in December tweeted that China had been “caught RED HANDED” after satellite imagery appeared to show Chinese vessels aiding North Korea.
In an interview with Reuters last week, Trump took a less harsh tone with China while taking aim at Russia.Caught RED HANDED – very disappointed that China is allowing oil to go into North Korea. There will never be a friendly solution to the North Korea problem if this continues to happen!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2017
“What China is helping us with, Russia is denting,” Trump said.
