(2nd LD) S. Korea slaps more sanctions on N. Korea in response to missile provocations
(ATTN: UPDATES with more info in last 3 paras)
SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Monday it has decided to impose additional independent sanctions on North Korea in response to its latest long-range ballistic missile launch and the firing of two short-range ballistic missiles.
The government is imposing the sanctions on four individuals and five institutions involved in the secretive regime's nuclear and missile development programs or helping Pyongyang evade sanctions, according to the foreign ministry.
Those blacklisted include Ri Song-un, former economic and commercial counselor at the North Korean Embassy in Mongolia, and Vladlen Amtchentsev, a Russian-born South African national who has helped North Korea buy oil illegally, it said. Ri is known to have negotiated trade deals involving weapons and luxury goods,
Among the organizations facing Seoul's measure are Songwon Shipping & Management, Korea Daizin Trading Corp. and Transatlantic Partners Pte. Ltd., all of which have already been sanctioned by Washington
Previously, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration imposed sanctions on the North on Feb. 10 over crypto theft and cyberattacks.
https://youtu.be/JmA7Rr7ZuwQ
This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Feb. 19, 2023, shows the North's firing of a Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile at a lofted angle the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
The top nuclear envoys of South Korea, the United States and Japan, meanwhile, denounced North Korea's latest provocations via phone consultations.
Kim Gunn, Seoul's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, held back-to-back talks with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts -- Sung Kim and Takehiro Funakoshi, respectively -- over the phone and warned that the North will clearly face "consequences" for its provocations, according to the ministry.
The envoys agreed to further strengthen cooperation with the international community for the thorough implementation of the U.N. Security Council resolutions against the North, the ministry added.
(END)
-
U.S. seeking trilateral summit with S. Korea, Japan in July: report -
N. Korea's Kim inspects construction site of ruling party's training school -
(LEAD) Rival parties' campaigning heats up 10 days ahead of general elections -
(LEAD) Fatigued medical professors set to reduce working hours -
Actor Nam Il-woo dies at 86
-
Disagreement over ambassador, presidential aide opens up fresh rift between Yoon, PPP leader -
Political parties ramp up campaign efforts amid shifting opinion polls -
(News Focus) U.S. focus on 'interim' steps with N. Korea raises questions about policy direction -
Demographic time bomb in S. Korea over world's lowest birth rate, super aging -
(News Focus) Cautious hopes reemerge for Japan's role over N. Korean nuclear conundrum