Washington slaps new sanctions on North Korea

The US Treasury extended financial sanctions against North Korea Monday, targeting four individuals and eight companies linked to the reclusive regime's nuclear programme with travel bans and assets freezes.

By News Wires (text)

AFP - The US government on Monday slapped sanctions on four people and eight firms linked to North Korea's government, the Treasury Department said.

The individuals, including two members of the North Korea's General Bureau of Atomic Energy were sanctioned under rules against providing financial and other support to the nuclear power.

They will face a travel ban and assets freeze.

Among those targeted were the head of the atomic energy bureau Ri Je-son and Ri Hong-Sop, who according to the United Nations, once ran the controversial Yongbyon Nuclear Research Center.

The center is suspected of producing fissile materiel used in nuclear weapons testing.

UN resolutions adopted after the North's missile and nuclear tests last year ban transactions linked to its nuclear and atomic activities and the supply of luxury goods to Pyongyang.

The fresh sanctions come amid tensions between Washington and Pyongyang, which have heightened since the March sinking of South Korean navy ship the Cheonan that resulted in 46 deaths.

The United States blames North Korea for the attack. Pyongyang denies torpedoing the ship.