The United States, in collaboration with Australia, Japan, and South Korea, imposed fresh sanctions on North Korea in response to its recent launch of a spy satellite. The move targeted foreign-based agents allegedly involved in facilitating sanctions evasion, providing revenue, and contributing to the nation’s weapons of mass destruction program.
The U.S. Treasury Department, in a statement, announced the sanctions and also designated cyber espionage group Kimsuky for gathering intelligence to support North Korea’s strategic and nuclear ambitions. The action comes after North Korea successfully launched its first reconnaissance satellite, claiming it was designed to monitor U.S. and South Korean military movements.
Brian Nelson, Treasury’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, emphasized the collective commitment to contesting Pyongyang’s illicit activities. He stated, “We will remain focused on targeting these key nodes in the DPRK’s illicit revenue generation and weapons proliferation,” using the initials for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The recent satellite launch heightened tensions, with North Korea claiming its leader, Kim Jong Un, reviewed spy satellite photos of key U.S. locations. The state media reported that the satellite captured images of cities and military bases in South Korea, Guam, Italy, as well as Washington.
The sanctioned individuals and entities face freezing of any U.S. assets, and Americans are generally barred from dealing with them. Engaging in certain transactions with the sanctioned entities can also lead to penalties.
Kimsuky, the cyber espionage group targeted in the sanctions, primarily uses spear-phishing techniques to target individuals in government, research centers, academic institutions, and other sectors globally. The group has historically focused on South Korea, Japan, and the United States.
In addition to Kimsuky, representatives of U.S. and UN-designated Green Pine, responsible for half of North Korea’s arms and related materiel exports, were also sanctioned. Individuals associated with North Korean banks in Russia and China were among those targeted.
North Korea’s mission to the United Nations has not responded to the latest sanctions as of now. The international community continues to closely monitor developments on the Korean Peninsula amid the heightened tensions.
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