US imposes sanctions on 8 North Koreans

WASHINGTON – The United States has resumed hostility against North Korea, imposing sanctions on  eight entities assisting the system with its Weapons of Mass Destruction(WMD) programme

In a statement, Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said the  eight DPRK-linked individuals and entities were designated under Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and WMD delivery systems.

“The seven individuals and one entity designated today are all linked to the DPRK’s weapons programs”, he said adding that the designations “convey our serious and ongoing concern about the DPRK’s continued proliferation activities and those who support it”, he said, adding that the United States will use every appropriate tool to address the DPRK’s WMD and ballistic missile programs, which constitute a serious threat to international peace and security and undermine the global nonproliferation regime.

In specific terms,  the U.S. Department of State said it designated one DPRK individual, one Russian individual, and one Russian entity that have engaged in activities or transactions that have materially contributed to the proliferation of WMD or their means of delivery by DPRK.

It noted that between 2018 and 2021, Russia-based DPRK national O Yong Ho procured and engaged in efforts to procure missile-applicable items from third countries on behalf of the DPRK’s missile program, including aramid fiber, stainless steel tubes, and ball bearings on behalf of the Rocket Industry Department (aka Ministry of Rocket Industry), which is subordinate to the DPRK’s UN- and U.S.-designated Munitions Industry Department.

“Between at least 2016 and 2021, O Yong Ho worked with Russian entity Parsek LLC and Russian national Roman Anatolyevich Alar, the director for development of Russian firm Parsek LLC, to procure multiple goods with ballistic missile applications, including Kevlar thread, aramid fiber, aviation oil, ball bearings, and precision milling machines controlled by the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Roman Anatolyevich Alar also provided O Yong Ho with instructions for creating solid rocket fuel mixtures.

“The procurement and supply relationship between O Yong Ho, Roman Anatolyevich Alar, and Parsek LLC is a key source of missile-applicable goods and technology for the DPRK’s missile program”, the Department said.

The statement noted  that the designations targeted five People’s Republic of China- and Russia-based DPRK representatives of a DPRK entity subordinate to the DPRK’s UN- and U.S.-designated Second Academy of Natural Sciences (SANS).

The Department of State designated this entity in 2010 for its involvement with or provision of support for the DPRK’s weapons programs.

“We have been and continue to coordinate closely with our allies and partners to address the threats posed by the DPRK’s destabilizing activity and to advance our shared objective of the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. We remain committed to seeking dialogue and diplomacy with the DPRK and call on the DPRK to engage in negotiations”, the statement added, urging all UN Member States to fully implement the UN Security Council resolutions addressing the DPRK.