South Korea imposes sanctions on North Korean officials for illegal arms trade

Seoul, Sep 21 (EFE).- South Korea on Thursday imposed unilateral sanctions on top North Korean officials, including the country’s defense minister, over their alleged involvement in “illegal arms trade” with three countries, including Russia.

“We have designated 10 individuals and 2 institutions as targets of our unilateral sanctions against North Korea,” South Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry added that these individuals and entities were sanctioned for their alleged involvement in arms trade with Russia and two other countries, as well as North Korea’s nuclear and missile development program, and illegal financial transactions.

It underlined the decision was taken “to firmly respond to North Korea’s illegal activities that pose a serious threat to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and the international community.”

Among those targeted by the fresh sanctions are North Korean Defense Minister Kang Sun-nam, former Army Chief of Staff Pak Su-il, and the Secretary of the Academy of Defense Science Ri Song-hak, the statement said.

The two institutions facing sanctions are Slovakian companies “Versor SRO” and “Glocom.”

Since October 2022, Seoul has imposed 12 rounds of sanctions against North Korea, affecting at least 64 individuals and 53 institutions, mostly in connection with Pyongyang’s illegal weapons trade.

The foreign ministry underlined it would continue to “block North Korea’s illegal activities,” including its illegal nuclear and missile development programs, through the imposition of unilateral sanctions.

South Korea announced these fresh sanctions days after a meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s far-eastern Amur region, where they discussed military cooperation.

Following the meeting, Putin said that there were possibilities for bilateral military and space cooperation between the two countries.

According to Western sources, Kim could be willing to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine with anti-tank missiles and artillery ammunition.

In return, Pyongyang could receive technology to launch satellites and nuclear-powered submarines, which would greatly strengthen the war capabilities of the North Korean regime

However, South Korea, Japan and the United States have warned that military cooperation, especially an arms deal, between North Korea and Russia would violate the United Nations sanctions, with possible consequences for both countries. EFE

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