The United States has added two Russian-based companies to North Korea-related sanctions lists. The new measures were announced by the US Treasury Department.
It is indicated that the restrictions included the Russian construction company Mokran from St. Petersburg and the North Korean General Trading Company Cholsan, whose branch is located in Moscow. The ministry said in a statement that both of them submitted a request and received permission to leave the DPRK for labor to work on Russian territory.
“North Korea has a long history of exploiting its citizens, sending them to distant countries to work in grueling conditions in order to financially support Pyongyang and its [building] weapons programs. Countries that still host North Korean workers should send them home, ”US Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin said in this regard.
The imposition of sanctions means that all property of companies in the United States must be blocked. Also, Americans or anyone in the United States is prohibited from doing business with them. Individuals who are seen doing transactions with these organizations may be blacklisted.
In June, US President Donald Trump extended sanctions against North Korea. They primarily involve economic restrictions such as blocking accounts and transactions from the country.
For the first time, sanctions against the DPRK were imposed by the UN Security Council in 2006, after the first successful test of North Korean nuclear weapons. They further expanded with each new test, as well as in connection with the launches of ballistic missiles and satellite.
