BALLISTIC MISSILE PROGRAMME

US sanctions two North Koreans

WASHINGTON: The United States sanctioned two North Korean officials on Tuesday over the development of ballistic missiles, as Russia and America's top diplomats held talks on Pyongyang's nuclear program, reports AFP.

Tensions have escalated after the isolated but nuclear-armed regime staged a series of atomic and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests, most recently on November 28. US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un have also traded personal insults.

"Treasury is targeting leaders of North Korea's ballistic missile programs, as part of our maximum pressure campaign to isolate the DPRK and achieve a fully denuclearized Korean Peninsula," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement, referring to North Korea by the abbreviation of its formal name.

The two officials were listed last Friday in a new United Nations Security Council resolution sanctioning North Korea, it said. "Kim Jong-Sik reportedly is a key figure in North Korea's ballistic missile development, including efforts to switch from liquid to solid fuel, and Ri Pyong-Chol is reported to be a key official involved in North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile development," the Treasury statement said.

Solid-fuel missiles can be fired on shorter notice, as they do not have to be filled with liquid fuel prior to launch.

"As a result of today's actions, any property or interests in property of those designated by OFAC within US jurisdiction are blocked, and transactions by US persons involving the designated person are generally prohibited," Treasury said, referring to its Office of Foreign Assets Control.

The sanctions announcement came as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson held talks by phone in which they discussed North Korea's nuclear program.

 

BALLISTIC MISSILE PROGRAMME

US sanctions two North Koreans

WASHINGTON: The United States sanctioned two North Korean officials on Tuesday over the development of ballistic missiles, as Russia and Americas top diplomats held talks on Pyongyangs nuclear program, reports AFP. Tensions have escalated after the isolated but nuclear-armed regime staged a series of atomic and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests, most recently on November 28. US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un have also traded personal insults. Treasury is targeting leaders of North Koreas ballistic missile programs, as part of our maximum pressure campaign to isolate the DPRK and achieve a fully denuclearized Korean Peninsula, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement, referring to North Korea by the abbreviation of its formal name. The two officials were listed last Friday in a new United Nations Security Council resolution sanctioning North Korea, it said. Kim Jong-Sik reportedly is a key figure in North Koreas ballistic missile development, including efforts to switch from liquid to solid fuel, and Ri Pyong-Chol is reported to be a key official involved in North Koreas intercontinental ballistic missile development, the Treasury statement said. Solid-fuel missiles can be fired on shorter notice, as they do not have to be filled with liquid fuel prior to launch. As a result of todays actions, any property or interests in property of those designated by OFAC within US jurisdiction are blocked, and transactions by US persons involving the designated person are generally prohibited, Treasury said, referring to its Office of Foreign Assets Control. The sanctions announcement came as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson held talks by phone in which they discussed North Koreas nuclear program.