U.S. announces new sanctions over North Korean weapons programs

U.S. sanctions against North Korea keep coming thick and fast.The Treasury Department has announced new punitive measures on two dozen entities and individuals linked to Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.The move comes as Washington remains deeply concerned about the threats posed by the unpredictable regime.Lee Seung-jae has more. The U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement on Wednesday that it's sanctioning nine entities, including two Chinese firms, 16 North Korean individuals and six North Korean vessels.... in order to systematically target those financing the Kim Jong-un regime and its weapons programs. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who was present at the Davos World Economic Forum, added that the U.S. is also targeting quote-en-quote illicit actors, in China, Russia and elsewhere with links to the North's financial networks,... calling for their expulsion. The sanctions target Beijing Chenxing Trading and Dandong Jianxiang Trade,... two Chinese companies accused of exporting a combined total of more than 68-million U.S. dollars worth of goods to North Korea,... as well as five North Korean shipping companies,... one North Korean electronics company and the North Korean Ministry of Crude Oil Industry. Individuals listed include ten representatives of North's Korea Ryonbong General Corporation,... which is involved in specializing in the regime's defense acquisition and support of its military-related sales. The latest sanctions come about a month after the Treasury blacklisted two senior North Korean officials who are involved in the regime's ballistic missile program,... as Washington continues to tighten the screw on Pyongyang,... amid the increasing threat to the U.S. mainland. Meanwhile, President Trump's National Security Advisor, H.R. McMaster continued to stress the seriousness of North Korea's threats,... stating that the "danger is growing" and that the North has become a "grave threat" to the United States. Calling it a preferred approach to the North Korean weapons issue,... the U.S. looks to continue its sanctions on the North,... hoping the pressure will force Pyongyang to abandon its weapons programs.Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.