New Sanctions Against North Korea to Be Voted on in the Security Council

On Thursday, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on nine companies and government entities, as well as three individuals, due to their connections with North Korea's missile and nuclear program. The United Nations Security Council is set to vote on a draft of new sanctions against Pyongyang on Friday. According to Reuters, the sanctions from the U.S. Treasury also include two Russian companies and one citizen of Russia, in addition to North Korean individuals and companies. The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned the Russian company 'Ardis Behrings' and its director Igor Alexandrovich Michirin for cooperating with North Korea's missile program. Another Russian company, 'Independent Petroleum,' and its subsidiary have been sanctioned for selling over one million dollars worth of oil to North Korea. According to the Russian news agency Interfax, Sergei Ryabkov, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, expressed surprise at the U.S. decision to sanction Russian companies and citizens due to their ties with North Korea. RIA Novosti reported that Ryabkov emphasized that Russia is prepared to take retaliatory measures in this regard, adding that these sanctions do not help efforts to improve relations between Moscow and Washington. Meanwhile, as news of these sanctions emerged, the U.S. and China are set to vote on a new draft resolution on Friday to impose sanctions on more individuals and entities in North Korea. Diplomats told the Associated Press that the draft includes sanctions on 15 North Korean citizens and four institutions and entities from the country. The report adds that the travel of these individuals abroad will be prohibited and their assets worldwide will be seized. The Associated Press states that the United Nations Security Council has so far adopted six resolutions imposing sanctions against North Korea. While the U.S. seeks stricter sanctions against Pyongyang, China advocates for dialogue with North Korea to reduce tensions. Liu Jieyi, China's representative at the United Nations, stated last week that we must strive to reduce tensions so that we can work towards nuclear disarmament through dialogue. In recent months, North Korea has conducted multiple missile tests, disregarding Security Council resolutions. North Korea, which is attempting to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles, has tested medium-range ballistic missiles in recent weeks, claiming the success of these tests. As reported by Reuters, while Pyongyang seeks to enhance its capabilities to install nuclear warheads on ballistic missiles, the international community and the UN Security Council have called on North Korea to cease its missile and nuclear tests. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, previously described North Korea as his greatest global challenge and mentioned the possibility of conflict with Pyongyang. In this context, the North Korean leader claims to have a 'bigger gift' for the United States. Trump described North Korea's missile test as a 'great disrespect to China.' North Korea has tested a 'new air defense system.'