Seoul imposes more sanctions on North Korean, Russian entities, ships and individuals

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin take a ride in a vehicle during Putin's visit to Pyongyang on June 19. [YONHAP]

The South Korean government imposed independent sanctions on five entities, four ships and eight individuals involved in the transportation of weapons and import of refined oil into North Korea, the Foreign Ministry announced Thursday.

North Korea’s Missile Administration was one of the targets of the new sanctions, which is responsible for the latest missile launch on Wednesday that South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff assessed as a failure. The Missile Administration was established in April 2016 and oversees the production, management and administration of North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missiles.

The four other entities designated as targets of sanctions are Russian shipping companies Transmorflot LLC, M Leasing LLC, IBEX Shipping Inc. and a company called Euromarket located in South Ossetia, Georgia. Ships owned by the three shipping companies carried large quantities of containers and transported military supplies between Russia and North Korea, and Euromarket was involved in selling Russian refined oil to Pyongyang, according to Seoul’s Foreign Ministry.

Four Russian ships, the Patriot, Neptun, Bella and Bogatyr, were sanctioned for their involvement in supplying oil to North Korea and violating UN Security Council resolutions.

Individuals targeted for sanctions Thursday were all involved in the North’s missile development within the Missile Administration.

Within the agency, Han Kum-bok and Kim Chang-rok worked on missile development, while Choi Chol-ung and Ma Chol-wan were involved in missile operations. Choi traveled to Russia in September last year with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Ryu Sang-hun, an official leading the program to develop a spy satellite, was also sanctioned, while Bang Hyun-chol, Ha Jung-kuk and Jo Tae-chul worked as researchers in developing ballistic missiles.

The Foreign Ministry said the sanctions were in response to Pyongyang’s and Moscow’s continued military cooperation in violation of UN Security Council resolutions and threatening South Korea’s security interests by signing a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un previously signed the treaty during Putin’s visit to Pyongyang on June 19, the first such visit in 24 years. The treaty included a defense clause that stipulated either side would provide assistance “with all means” at their disposal “without delay” if one is invaded or enters a state of war.

Financial and foreign exchange transactions with sanctioned entities and individuals require prior approval.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]