Politics

Seoul imposes unilateral sanctions on Pyongyang following ICBM launch

Seoul, Jul 14 (EFE).- South Korea on Friday announced new unilateral sanctions against four North Korean individuals and three entities in response to its launch of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) two days ago.

The South Korean foreign ministry said in a statement that this action was taken “in response to North Korea’s long-range ballistic missile launch that threatens the peace and safety of the Korean Peninsula and the international society.”

Therefore, “the government has decided to impose unilateral sanctions against four individuals and three organizations that intervened in nuclear and missile developments and funding,” the text added.

Among the four individuals sanctioned are two regime officials, Jong Kyong-thaek, a member of the Politburo and the State Affairs Commission, and Park Kwang-ho, former director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department, where Kim Yo-jong, sister of leader Kim Jong-un, is deputy director.

The other two are Park Hwa-song and Hwang Gil-soo, who run the “front company” Congo Aconde, which acts as the DR Congo branch of the Chosun Baekho Trading Company and earns foreign currency for the regime by making and exporting statues and sculptures as well as sending North Koreans for construction work.

Seoul’s foreign affairs ministry recalled that United Nations sanctions punish the export of North Korean statues, a business that the regime carries out especially in African countries taking advantage of the know-how of the artisans working in centers such as the Mansudae Art Studio in Pyongyang, in charge of making the statues of North Korean leaders and other pieces of propaganda art.

The new sanctions package also includes Congo Aconde itself and its parent company, Chosun Baekho, as well as Chilsung Trading, according to Seoul.

Friday’s is the 10th package of unilateral sanctions against North Korea approved by the government of conservative President Yoon Suk-yeol since he came to power in May 2022, raising the number of individuals and entities to 49 and 50, respectively. EFE

asb/ns-nt/tw

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