US imposes new sanctions against North Korea

The United States has imposed new sanctions on North Korea and Chinese firms and individuals that support Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program.

The US Treasury Department said Wednesday it is targeting nine entities, 16 individuals and six vessels in several countries that finance or support North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.

“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,” US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

The US Treasury also imposed sanctions on officials belonging to the Workers Party of Korea who are operating in China, Russia and Georgia’s Abkhazia region and urged those countries to expel the individuals.

According to US officials, Russia quietly boosted economic support for North Korea last year.