US Sanctions Against Chinese and Russian Companies for Cooperation with North Korea

On Tuesday, August 22, the US Treasury Department imposed new sanctions against individuals and companies from China and Russia due to their collaboration with North Korea's weapons program. According to Reuters, the US Treasury has sanctioned six Chinese companies, one Russian company, one North Korean company, and two companies in Singapore. The US has also added six individuals to its sanctions list, including four Russians, one Chinese, and one North Korean. These sanctions come after UN sanctions against Pyongyang. Recently, North Korea tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles, which drew widespread international reactions. China quickly responded to these unilateral sanctions from Washington, urging the US to 'immediately correct' its 'mistake' in this regard. Meanwhile, the US Treasury stated that the new sanctions target individuals and companies that have collaborated with North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and have engaged in energy trade with Pyongyang. Steven Mnuchin, the US Treasury Secretary, stated that the Treasury will continue to increase pressure on Pyongyang by targeting those who assist North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and depriving them of access to the US financial system. Mnuchin added that it is unacceptable for individuals and companies in China, Russia, or elsewhere to provide revenues to North Korea that Pyongyang uses to develop its nuclear and missile programs. Reuters reports that it seems the US had been planning to impose these sanctions earlier but delayed them to avoid potential Chinese opposition to a sanctions resolution against North Korea that was approved on August 6. North Korea is developing its nuclear and missile programs in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions and ignoring requests from China, its main ally.