North Korea - sanctions

Companies, individuals added to nuclear blacklist

Article published on the 2009-07-17 Latest update 2009-07-17 12:03 TU

A tourist looks at a display showing North Korea's missile system at a South Korean observation post near the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas.
(Photo: Reuters)

The UN Security Council on Thursday blacklisted five North Korean individuals and five businesses in a renewed effort to constrain the state’s nuclear ambitions. This comes on the heels of a June resolution to impose tougher sanctions after North Korea's illegal nuclear tests.

The individuals targeted are five senior officials linked to North Korea’s banned nuclear, ballistic missile, and weapons of mass destruction programs.

Those named include Yun Ho-Jin, head of Namchongang Trading Corporation, which oversees imports related to uranium enrichment, and Han Yu-Ro, head of Korea Ryongaksan General Trading Corporation, which is involved in the ballistic missile program.

Of the five entities implicated in proliferation activities are General Bureau of Atomic Energy, which runs the state’s nuclear program, and Namchongang Trading Corporation, which has been linked to purchases of pumps used in uranium enrichment.

The call for new sanctions was included under a UN Security Council resolution that was passed last month after North Korea conducted a nuclear test on May 25.

Since then, it has conducted a second nuclear test, fired a variety of shorter-range missiles, and renounced nuclear disarmament talks.

Fazli Corman, the head of the council’s sanctions committee, announced the move. He said the measures “demonstrated the council’s unity and resolve” and were designed to “minimize any unintended consequences for the people” of North Korea.