US sanctions a series of Chinese and Russian companies

The US has imposed sanctions on Chinese and Russian companies and individuals suspected of supporting North Korea's nuclear program.

The Pukguksong-2 missile was launched in February from an undisclosed location in North Korea. Photo: KCNA.

The US Treasury Department announced sanctions on August 22 targeting 10 companies and six individuals for helping previously sanctioned individuals involved in North Korea’s missile program or engaging in North Korea’s energy trade. The US also sanctioned people and groups that allowed North Korean entities to access the US financial system or helped the country export labor, according toYonhap.

Any property or income belonging to the subject of the sanctions, owned or controlled by US citizens, or located in the US, will be blocked.

Most of the individuals and companies are in China and Russia, with the exception of one person from North Korea, one Namibian company controlled by North Korea, another Namibian company controlled by China, and two companies located in Singapore.

“It is unacceptable for individuals and companies in China, Russia, and elsewhere to facilitate North Korea’s development of weapons of mass destruction and destabilize the region,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin.

In June, the Trump administration also sanctioned a Chinese bank, a company and two individuals to block funding for North Korea's weapons program.

The latest US sanctions add to those imposed by the United Nations this month in response to five nuclear tests and four long-range missile launches by North Korea. Pyongyang has been under UN sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

See also:

• Sea of ​​North Koreans protest UN sanctions

According to VNE