The United States announced Friday, October 7 economic sanctions against two people and three entities accused of having participated in the illegal export of oil to North Korea.
Their actions "
directly support the development of North Korea's weapons program and its military
," the US Treasury Department said in a statement.
These sanctions are aimed at preventing the country from "
circumventing United Nations sanctions restricting the importation of petroleum products
" by using a system of illicit ship-to-ship transshipments, he added.
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The announcement comes in a tense context, as North Korea launched two new ballistic missiles on Thursday and flew 12 fighter jets in formation, after firing another missile over Japan on Tuesday, a first since 2017.
The North Korean regime called the weapons tests "
just retaliation
" against Washington and Seoul and their military exercises in the region.
By imposing these sanctions, the United States wants to show that it "
will continue to act against those who help the development and maintenance of the North Korean army and its military arsenal
", assured the American Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a separate statement, again decrying the missile fire.
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The sanctions announced Friday target Singapore-based Kwek Kee Seng and Taiwan-based Chen Shih Huan, as well as New Eastern Shipping Co Ltd, Anfasar Trading (S) Pte.
Ltd and Swanseas Port Services Pte.
ltd.
They provide in particular for the freezing of their possible assets and property in the United States, in addition to the prohibition on American companies, including banks, from trading with them.
The two individuals sanctioned and the company New Eastern Shipping Co Ltd are accused of having owned or managed a ship, "
The Courageous
", used for transhipments and which made at least one direct delivery to North Korea.
“
The Courageous
” had made some of these overnight transfers and taken detours to “
disguise its true destination or origin
,” according to the Treasury Department.