New US Sanctions on N. Korea to Take Effect in 2 Weeks

The U.S. State Department said Wednesday that it will impose new sanctions on North Korea to cut off its funding sources within two weeks.

The move is meant to curb illegal activities that help fund the North’s proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

On the new sanctions as announced by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Assistant Secretary of State Philip J. Crowley told a daily news briefing, “Much of what we’ve done up to this point has centered on proliferation activities that stem from specific authorities. We’re moving into strengthening our national steps to attack the illicit activities that help to fund the weapons programs.”

“We’ve had this under study consistently for several months.”

Crowley said, “We are going to be establishing new executive authorities,” adding, “We’ll have more to say about that in a couple of weeks once all of this is teed up.”

He also said the U.S. will cooperate with key governments to “stop North Korean trading companies engaged in illicit activities from operating in those countries and prevent their banks from facilitating these companies’ illicit transactions.”

The new sanctions will also focus on halting the North’s illegal activities that defy international norms, such as counterfeiting U.S. dollars, production of fake tobacco, and smuggling using diplomatic privilege.

Crowley said, “The special adviser for nonproliferation arms control, Bob Einhorn, will be traveling in early August to enhance our cooperation internationally.”

Saying the State Department and the Treasury have designated entities and individuals supporting proliferation and subjected them to an asset freeze, he said, “They’re announced publicly via publication in the Federal Register.”

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