The United States has imposed new sanctions on Chinese and Russian firms and individuals for what it said was their support of North Korea’s weapons progra
The United States has imposed new sanctions on Chinese and Russian firms and individuals for what it said was their support of North Korea’s weapons programme – a move criticised by both Beijing and Moscow.
The US Treasury designated on Tuesday six Chinese-owned entities, one Russian, one North Korean and two based in Singapore.
They included a Namibia-based subsidiary of a Chinese company and a North Korean entity operating in Namibia.
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The sanctions also targeted six individuals – four Russians, one Chinese and one North Korean.
The measures block any assets individuals and entities may have in US jurisdictions and bar Americans from transactions with them.
“It is unacceptable for individuals and companies in China, Russia, and elsewhere to enable North Korea to generate income used to develop weapons of mass destruction and destabilize the region, ” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.
The move follows a war of words between Washington and Pyongyang over recent missile tests that show North Korea is capable of reaching the US mainland.
