US sanctions 2 individuals, 3 entities for selling crude to Pyongyang

Washington DC, Oct 7 (EFE).- The United States government on Friday approved sanctions on two individuals and three entities that have provided crude oil to North Korea, something that implies a direct support to the arms development of the Asian country.

The Treasury and State Departments announced these sanctions in separate statements denouncing Pyongyang’s arms escalation.

“The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) continues its unprecedented pace, scale, and scope of ballistic missile launches this year. This year alone, it has launched 41 ballistic missiles. Six of these were intercontinental ballistic missiles,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a separate statement.

With these sanctions, the US “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,” he added.

The Treasury Department has sanctioned the entity New Eastern Shipping, and the individuals Kwek Kee Seng and Chen Shih Huan for involvement in shipping oil to North Korea.

The other two entities to be sanctioned are Anfsar Trading and Swanseas Port Services, which belong to the above two people.

In the statement, Blinken recalled UN resolutions prohibiting the transfer of cargo to any North Korean vessel, and limiting the import of refined oil to the country to a maximum of 500,000 barrels a year.

North Korea on Thursday fired two other short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan, just two days after launching an intermediate-range missile that flew over Japanese territory, significantly increasing tensions in the region. EFE

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