S. Korea sanctions eight individuals following N. Korea's recent ICBM launch

정부, 리창호 정찰총국장 등 북한인 8명 제재 ICBM 발사 대응 We begin with South Korea blacklisting eight North Koreans believed to be involved in procuring funds for the North's nuclear and weapons development. That includes the chief of the regime's spy agency. Choi Min-jung starts us off. South Korea has slapped a fresh round of sanctions on North Korea, in response to the regime's most recent launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on December 18th. Seoul's foreign ministry announced Wednesday, that it has targeted eight individuals. All eight were reportedly involved in generating profits for the North Korean regime and financing nuclear weapons and missile programs, through illegal cyber activities, and trading sanctioned materials including weapons. Among those on the list is Ri Chang-ho, the head of the regime's Reconnaissance General Bureau, also known as the organization behind North Korean hacking groups such as Kimsuky, Lazarus, and Andariel. Ri is accused of gaining foreign currency and stealing technology through illicit cyber activities. Park Young-han was also sanctioned for trading weapons-related goods on behalf of Korea Mining and Development Trading Corporation, North Korea's primary arms dealer. North Korean diplomat Yun Chol, reportedly traded lithium-6, a UN-prohibited nuclear-related item. The remaining listed individuals are affiliated with Pan Systems Pyongyang, an organization sanctioned by the South Korean government in 2016, and were involved in trading North Korean-made weapons. South Korea's foreign ministry also warned that Pyongyang's provocations would come with a price. It vowed to cooperate more closely with the international community, including the U.S. and Japan, to ensure that the regime realizes that it must stop its provocations, and engage in denuclearization talks. With the sanctions now in place, those wishing to engage in financial transactions with these individuals must obtain permission from the governor of the Bank of Korea or the Financial Services Commission. The latest measures are the 14th round of sanctions to be put in place against Pyongyang since the beginning of the Yoon administration. Since October last year, South Korea has targeted 83 individuals and 53 institutions. Choi Min-jung, Arirang News. #sanctions #ICBM #NorthKorea #RiChangho #SouthKorea #military_provocation #ballistic_missile #북한_제재 #ICBM미사일 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook : 📣 Twitter : 📣 Homepage : 2023-12-27, 12:00 (KST)