WASHINGTON: The United States, South Korea, and Japan have imposed sanctions on North Korean officials linked to the country's weapons programs after Pyongyang's latest and largest intercontinental ballistic missile test last month.
The US Treasury Department named the individuals as Jon Il Ho, Yu Jin, and Kim Su Gil, all of whom the European Union designated for sanctions in April.
The foreign ministry of South Korea said there were sanctions against seven other individuals, including a Taiwanese and a Singaporean. The ministry said that all of the countries are already under sanctions imposed by the United States between Jan 2018 and Oct 2022.
Japan has three entities and an individual designated for new sanctions, including the Lazarus Group, which is suspected of carrying out cyberattacks, according to Japan's foreign ministry.
China and Russia have blocked recent efforts to impose more UN sanctions, saying they should instead be allowed to jumpstart talks and avoid humanitarian harm. Washington has to focus on trilateral efforts with South Korea and Japan, as well as European partners because of that.
The latest sanctions are a result of a Nov 18 ICBM test by North Korea, part of a record-breaking spate of more than 60 missile launches this year, and amid concerns that it may resume nuclear weapons testing, which has been suspended since 2017.
A Treasury statement said Jon Il Ho and Yu Jin played major roles in the development of weapons of mass destruction while serving as vice director and director of North Korea's Munitions Industry Department.
It said Kim Su Gil served as the director of the Korean People's Army General Political Bureau from 2018 to 2021 and oversaw the implementation of decisions related to the WMD program.
Treasury is taking action against officials who have been involved in the DPRK's unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs in close coordination with the Republic of Korea and Japan, under Secretary of Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson, using the initials of North Korea's official name.
Recent launches demonstrate the need for all countries to fully implement UN Security Council resolutions, which are intended to prevent the DPRK from acquiring the technologies, materials, and revenue Pyongyang needs to develop its prohibited WMD and ballistic missile capabilities. The sanctions freeze US assets of individuals and bar dealings with them, but they seem largely symbolic.