The US imposes sanctions on North Korea.
On January 24, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on North Korean entities and individuals suspected of involvement in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on two representatives of Tanchon Commercial Bank (TCB) in Beijing, China, Ra Kyong Su and Kim Kwang Il, for their involvement in assisting the North Korean Mining Development Trading Corporation (KOMID) in exporting weapons technology and equipment to other countries, including Iran.
North Korea has announced it will conduct a nuclear test targeting the United States - Photo: nationalpost.com
In addition, there is Leader International Trading Company (Hong Kong), which is believed to play a supporting role in transporting weapons-related items to KOMID's foreign customers.
In addition, the US also decided to impose sanctions on the North Korean Space and Technology Committee (KCST) and two related individuals for orchestrating last year's Taepodong-2 missile test launch, as well as directly assisting in the development of North Korea's long-range missile program. Accordingly, Washington will freeze all assets and prohibit these individuals from conducting commercial transactions in the US.
The White House also warned it would impose new sanctions after North Korea announced its intention to test a new nuclear weapon and long-range missile.
Both the US and China reacted strongly on January 24 to North Korea's statement calling the US an "implacable enemy" and saying it would conduct another nuclear test despite international sanctions.
China is calling for new talks with North Korea, while Washington insists on “further steps” beyond expanding the UN sanctions adopted this week.
On January 24, the North Korean National Defense Council issued a statement calling the United States "the sworn enemy of the North Korean people," and asserted, "We do not hide the fact that the series of satellite and long-range missile launches, as well as high-level nuclear tests, are aimed at the United States. A settlement with the United States must be achieved through force, not words."
The statement was read on North Korea's official news agency, KCNA. From Washington, White House press secretary Jay Carney said the comments from Pyongyang were "blatant provocation." Carney also said the recent UN Security Council resolution freezing assets and banning North Korean officials from traveling abroad sent "a strong message of the international community's opposition to North Korea's provocations."
US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the US is “very concerned” about North Korean threats and “is prepared to respond to any provocation.”
China has supported the UN resolution to expand sanctions, and on January 24, the country's new leader, General Secretary Xi Jinping, appeared in major newspapers saying Beijing proposed resuming the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program, which have been stalled since 2008.
North Korea conducted two nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, but analysts generally believe it is still many years away from developing a weapon capable of reaching US territory.
According to Tuoi Tre - DT
