Recently, North Korea has intensified the launch of ballistic missiles.
South Korea contributed 15 individuals and 16 institutions of Korea to its “blacklist” as part of the first unilateral sanctions against Pyongyang in nearly five years in response to North Korea's growing nuclear threat, as well as launches of ballistic missiles, which have become more frequent recently. This is reported by Yonhap.
The sanctions list includes officials of firms and organizations related to North Korea's missile program, as well as those involved in the procurement of weapons of mass destruction.
“We strongly condemn North Korea for its recent series of missile provocations with an unprecedented frequency and threats to use tactical nuclear weapons against us,” South Korea's Foreign Ministry said.
The new sanctions come at a time when , as North Korea escalated tensions on the peninsula with a series of provocative missile launches in recent weeks. In addition, fears have grown that it may soon conduct a nuclear test.
South Korea has imposed sanctions against North Korea for the first time in five years. South Korea's foreign ministry said it would consider applying additional sanctions against Pyongyang if there are further provocations.
“The latest unilateral sanctions are important because (such a measure) was taken for the first time in five years, and this is not the end. We plan to introduce additional unilateral sanctions against North Korea's provocations and discuss ways to improve the effectiveness of sanctions in close coordination with the United States, Japan, Australia, the EU and other allies,” a ministry representative told reporters.
The sanctions list includes representatives of Korea Ryonbong General Corp., known as a defense conglomerate specializing in procurement for North Korea's defense industry, and the Second Academy of Natural Sciences, now known as the National Defense Science Academy, which is responsible for developing ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons.
Also under sanctions are the Ministry of Missile Industry, Hapjanggang Trading Corp., Korea Rounsan Trading Corp., the North Korean Maritime Administration and the Ministry of Petroleum Industry of North Korea.
The latest sanctions from Seoul are seen by many as symbolic, as all transactions between the two countries were effectively banned for many years. Individuals and legal entities that have been sanctioned by South Korea are already on the US sanctions list.
Also read: North Korea continues to launch ballistic missiles towards the East Sea
Earlier it was reported that The United States has moved the Ronald Reagan Navy aircraft carrier strike group to the shores of the Korean Peninsula as tensions in the region have escalated after a series of missile launches by North Korea over the past two weeks.
Related video < p>Reuters reported that North Korea's recent series of missile tests were carried out to simulate a tactical nuclear attack on South Korea as a warning after joint military exercises there with the Americans.
