U.S. sanctions North Korea airline officials for aiding weapons programs
The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on two representatives of North Korean national airline Air Koryo, accusing them of facilitating Pyongyang’s ballistic missile and other weapons development programs.
The sanctions followed a recent barrage of ballistic missiles launched by North Korea, including an intercontinental ballistic missile earlier this month, with concern growing that Pyongyang will carry out its first nuclear test in years.
The United States continues to take steps to limit North Korea’s access to logistical and financial resources for its weapons programs, which are “in clear violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions and threaten regional peace and security,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement.
One of the two individuals, Ri Sok, has been an Air Koryo representative in China and involved in the transportation of electronic parts from China to North Korea on behalf of the country’s Ministry of Rocket Industry, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.
The other person, Yan Zhiyong, has been a logistics manager with Air Koryo and has facilitated the transportation of goods to North Korea, it said.
The sanctions freeze the assets held by the designated individuals in the United States and prohibit them from engaging in transactions with Americans.