The United States has imposed on five North Korean officials in its first response to Pyongyangโs latest ballistic missile test.
The Biden administration further stated that it will also seek new UN sanctions against North Korea.
The US Treasury Department announced penalties on the five officials over their roles in obtaining equipment and technology for their countryโs missile programs.
“The DPRKโs latest missile launches are further evidence that it continues to advance prohibited programs despite the international communityโs calls for diplomacy and denuclearisation,” Treasury’s chief of terrorism and financial intelligence, Brian Nelson told media today.
Meanwhile, the US ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield tweeted today that following designations by Treasury and State the US is also proposing UN sanctions in response to North Korea’s six ballistic missile launches since September, โeach of which were in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.”
The US Treasury said Choe Myong Hyon, one of the North Koreans was based in Russia and had provided support to North Korea’s Second Academy of Natural Sciences (SANS), which is already under sanctions.
Also targeted were four China-based North Korean representatives of SANS-subordinate organisations, the Treasury Department said: Sim Kwang Sok, Kim Song Hun, Kang Chol Hak and Pyon Kwang Chol.
In a related action, Treasury said the Department of State had designated another North Korean, O Yong Ho, a Russian national, Roman Anatolyevich Alar, and a Russian company, Parsek LLC, for having “materially contributed to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery by (North Korea).”
Moreover, North Korea’s state news agency said the latest missile launch involved a hypersonic glide vehicle demonstrated โglide jump flightโ and โcorkscrew maneuveringโ before hitting a sea target about 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) away from the firing range.
Photos also showed a missile mounted with a pointed cone-shaped payload soaring into the sky while leaving a trail of orange flames while North Korean President Kim watching it from a cabin with senior officials.
