The U.S. Sanctions Two Senior North Korean Officials

The United States has placed two senior North Korean officials on its sanctions list due to their involvement in the expansion of Pyongyang's ballistic missile program. The U.S. Treasury Department announced on Tuesday, December 26, that it has sanctioned Kim Jong Sik and Ri Pyong Chol, who play significant roles in North Korea's missile program. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, Kim Jong Sik has been one of the individuals who transitioned North Korea's missile program from liquid fuel to solid fuel. Ri Pyong Chol is also an active participant in the country's intercontinental ballistic missile program. Steven Mnuchin, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, stated, "The Treasury has sanctioned two leaders of North Korea's ballistic missile program as part of increasing pressure to isolate North Korea and achieve a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula." Mnuchin added, "These actions are in line with a United Nations Security Council resolution that was passed on Friday, which imposed heavier sanctions on North Korea." The UN Security Council approved new sanctions against Pyongyang on December 22 in response to North Korea's latest missile test. The sanctions imposed on Friday followed the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead on November 28. The recent resolution not only imposes new restrictions on the import of petroleum products and the export of certain items but also gives North Korean workers in other countries a short deadline to return to their homeland. All 15 members of the Security Council were in agreement on tightening sanctions against Pyongyang. The North Korean Foreign Ministry stated in a statement that the Security Council sanctions are "a severe violation of territorial integrity and a warlike act that violates peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and region." Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated following a series of missile tests and a recent nuclear test in North Korea. The number of missile tests and the capability and range of these weapons have significantly increased since Kim Jong Un came to power. North Korea claims that the sanctions or military exercises by the United States and its regional allies are aimed at overthrowing the ruling regime or violating its territorial integrity. Washington and its allies assert that the exercises are defensive and conducted to prepare for military threats from Pyongyang. The U.S. State Department has emphasized that it continues to seek a diplomatic solution to end North Korea's nuclear military activities. In this context, the Security Council has tightened sanctions against North Korea for the fourth time in the past six months.