The U.S. Department of State has imposed sanctions on three individuals, including North Korean nationals, and companies from Russia and China, accusing them of procuring ballistic missile-related materials for North Korea.
According to Voice of America (VOA) on Thursday, the State Department announced that, effective November 20, sanctions have been imposed under the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA) on three individuals: North Korean nationals Kim Sang Chol and Ri Sung Chol, and Russian Igor Aleksandrovich Michurin.
Additionally, sanctions were also imposed on the Russian company Bearings on Lipetsk LLC and the Chinese firm Dandong Mason-AGE Trading Co Ltd. The sanctions are set to last for two years.
This action is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Friday, following the Thanksgiving holiday, with details released in advance.
The sanctions prohibit the designated entities and individuals from entering into contracts with the U.S. government. Individuals or companies engaging in transactions with them will face restrictions on export licenses, and existing licenses will be suspended.
Ri Sung Chol and Michurin were previously sanctioned in March 2022, with those sanctions valid for two years. This new announcement places them back on the sanctions list just eight months after the previous sanctions expired.
For Kim Sang Chol and the two companies, this marks their first time being sanctioned.
VOA explained that although the State Department did not specify the exact reasons for the sanctions, it had previously highlighted in 2022 that Ri Sung Chol and Michurin were involved in delivering sensitive items to North Korea’s missile program.
The report further suggested that it is highly likely Kim Sang Chol and the two companies newly added to the sanctions list were also involved in North Korea’s ballistic missile procurement activities.
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