UN lists new sanctions, bans for DPRK

The United Nations listed for new sanctions on Thursday five individuals and five entities believed to be involved in nuclear or ballistic missile development for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The Security Council sanctions committee mandated to list the targets, and also announced a ban on the shipment of two sensitive goods to or from the East Asian country.

New sanctions were voted against the DPRK on June 12, following a second nuclear test on May 25. Sanctions were imposed after Pyongyang's initial nuclear test in October 2006. The original measure included a ban on ballistic missile tests by the DPRK.

"The committee has decided today (Thursday) to designate the following five entities for assets freeze," said Turkey's Fazli Corman, chairman of the Council panel. "These entities are linked to the DPRK's nuclear and/or missile programs."

Lister were, the DPRK's General Bureau of Atomic Energy, Namchongang Trading Corp., Korea Hyoksin trading Corp., Korean Tangun Trading Corp., and Hong Kong Electronics, identified as "owned or controlled to act on or in behalf of Tanchon Commercial Bank," but located on Kish Island, Iran. The company was accused of having transferred "millions of dollars of (nuclear) proliferation-related funds ... from Iran to the DPRK."

"The committee agreed to continue working to identify subsidiaries of designated entities which are also covered by the relevant measures," Corman said.

The individuals named were the director of the GBAE, Ri Je Son,a director of the nuclear program in the agency, Hwang Sok Hwa; the former director on the Yongbyon Nuclear Research Center, Ri Hong Sop; the directors of two trading companies, Yun Ho Jin, of Namchongang and Han Yu Ro of Korea Ryongaksan Trading Corp., involved in the DPRK's missile program.

The goods banned are electrical discharge machining graphite and para-aramid fiber, Kevlar or Kevlar-like filament and tape.

"The committee also agreed to continue working to identify additional technical items, including sensitive goods, ballistic missile-related items and nuclear-related items," the chairman said.

"Please note that these sanctions are carefully targeted at only those entities and individuals responsible for the DPRK's ballistic missile, nuclear and other WMD related programs," he said. "They are designed to minimize any unintended humanitarian consequences on the people of the DPRK."

Previously, the Security Council voted an arms embargo on Pyongyang, except from states to the DPRK of small arms and light weapons and their related materials, but on which states are required to notify the sanctions committee in advance. The panel also banned arms-related financial transactions, technical training or services.

The Council earlier slapped an embargo on nuclear, ballistic missiles and other weapons of mass destruction programs and the export of luxury goods to the DPRK.

In the latest resolution, 1874, passed unanimously last month, the 15-nation Security Council provided for the creation of a Panel of Experts, to help in its work of identifying entities. The Council also mandated a constant review of the sanctions.

The earlier sanction resolution, 1718, followed Pyongyang's first nuclear test in 2006.

"Today's decision demonstrates our unity and resolve on this critical issue for international peace and security," Corman told reporters.

After the announced new measures, Japanese UN Ambassador Yukio Takasu told reporters here that "Japan welcomes the decision of the 1718 committee to designate five entities and five individual sand items of goods which all are related to development of nuclear programs or ballistic missile programs."

Source: Xinhua

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