U.S. imposes sanctions on three North Korea officials after missile test

The sanctions on three North Korean officials by the U.S. comes after Pyongyang's latest intercontinental ballistic missile test last month.

The United States on Thursday, December 1, 2022, imposed sanctions on three senior North Korean officials connected to the country's weapons programs after Pyongyang's latest and largest intercontinental ballistic missile test last month.

The U.S. Treasury Department named the individuals as Jon Il Ho, Yu Jin, and Kim Su Gil, all of whom were designated for sanctions by the European Union in April.

The latest sanctions follow a Nov. 18 ICBM test by North Korea and amid concerns that it may be about to resume nuclear bomb testing suspended since 2017.

A Treasury statement said Jon Il Ho and Yu Jin played major roles in the development of North Korea's weapons of mass destruction while serving as vice director and director, respectively, of the North Korea's Munitions Industry Department.

It said Kim Su Gil served as director of the Korean People's Army General Political Bureau from 2018 to 2021 and oversaw the implementation of decisions related to the WMD programme.

"Treasury is taking action in close trilateral coordination with the Republic of Korea and Japan against officials who have had leading roles in the DPRK's unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programmess," Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in the statement.

"Recent launches demonstrate the need for all countries to fully implement U.N. Security Council resolutions, which are intended to prevent the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) from acquiring the technologies, materials, and revenue Pyongyang needs to develop its prohibited WMD and ballistic missile capabilities."