US Sanctions Senior N Korean Government Officials, Army’s Top Commander

The United States has imposed new sanctions against North Korean senior government officials as well as top army commanders over Pyongyang’s nuclear development efforts, the US Department of the Treasury announced in a release on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The designated individuals include Vice Chairman of the National Defense Commission and Vice Marshal of the Army Hwang Pyong, Vice Chairman of the National Defense Commission and the Army’s General O Kuk Ryol, Minister of the People’s Armed Forces and General of the Army Pak Yong Sik, Vice Chairman of the National Defense Commission and Army’s Vice Marshal Ri Yong Mu.

Besides, Director of the Munitions Industry Department Ri Man Gon, Director of the National Aerospace Development Administration Yu Chol U, North Korea’s Ambassador to Egypt Pak Chun Il were added to the US sanctions list.

Washington has designated North Korean Central Military and National Defense Commissions over their ties to the country’s nuclear and weapons proliferation efforts.

“OFAC [Office of Foreign Assets Control] designated the Workers’ Party of Korea Central Military Commission and the National Defense Commission pursuant to E.O. 13687 for being agencies, instrumentalities, or controlled entities of the Government of North Korea or the Workers’ Party of Korea.”

The US has also imposed restrictions on additional individuals and entities linked to North Korea’s nuclear and arms proliferation activities.

Three North Korean government agencies as well as two individuals have been sanctioned for their role in Pyongyang’s nuclear proliferation efforts, the US Department of State said in a statement on Wednesday.