The Treasury Department imposed new sanctions following a rash of North Korean missile tests and targeted the network the administration says is helping supply the country’s weapons program.
The department designated two people and three entities for their work exporting petroleum to North Korea, which the department said on Friday in a release “directly supports the development of DPRK weapons programs and its military.”
“By designating these entities and individuals, the United States is sending a clear message that we will continue to take actions against those who support the development and sustainment of the DPRK’s military and weapons arsenal,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
KIM JONG UN’S NORTH KOREA FIRES TWO BALLISTIC MISSILES ONE DAY BEFORE KAMALA HARRIS’S DMZ VISIT
The sanctions come amid a tense week that included multiple DPRK missile tests and retaliatory exercises by the Japanese, South Korean, and U.S. militaries.
Marshall Islands-registered company New Eastern Shipping Co. Ltd. was sanctioned, as were Kwek Kee Seng and Chen Shih Huan, who were involved with the ownership or management of the Courageous, a vessel that the department said has conducted several deliveries of refined petroleum to the North Koreans.
The ship “engaged in deceptive shipping practices,” including disabling its automatic identification system while conducting ship-to-ship transfers and taking unnecessary routes to hide its true destination and origin.
Kwek Kee Seng and Chen Shih Human coordinated the transfers, and the New Eastern Shipping Co. was the registered owner at that time. Two other companies, Singapore-registered Anfasar Trading and Singapore-registered Swanseas Port Services, both of which were owned or controlled by Kwek Kee Seng, were sanctioned as well.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has continued to pursue growing his military’s nuclear arsenal in defiance of NATO and Western powers.
They have launched more than 40 missile tests already this year while South Korea’s deputy minister of national defense policy told lawmakers earlier this week that the North is ready to conduct its first nuclear test in five years, according to the Associated Press.
North Korea military flew a dozen warplanes near its border with South Korea on Thursday as well, which prompted the South to scramble 30 military planes in response on Thursday.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Following Thursday’s launches by North Korea, the U.S., South Korea, and Japan performed a missile defense exercise in the Sea of Japan. The guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville and the guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold participated in the exercise along with two Japanese and one South Korean destroyer, according to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
“This exercise enhances the interoperability of our collective forces and demonstrates the strength of the trilateral relationship with our Japan and Republic of Korea (ROK) allies, which is forward-leaning, reflective of our shared values, and resolute against those who challenge regional stability,” the U.S. Pacific Command statement said.
