US slaps new sanctions on firms, individuals in North Korea and Russia

Measures target Pyongyang's financial activities and military support for Moscow

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WASHINGTON - The United States hit North Korea and Russia on Dec 16 with new sanctions that the US Treasury Department said targeted Pyongyang's financial activities and military support for Moscow.

The sanctions, which list North Korean banks, generals and other officials as well as Russian oil shipping companies, are the latest US measures aimed at disrupting North Korea's support for Russia's war in Ukraine.

The North Korean banks targeted include Golden Triangle Bank and Korea Mandal Credit Bank, the US Treasury said in a statement.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry separately said on Dec 17 that it has blacklisted 11 individuals and 15 entities linked to illicit military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.

The responses came as 10 countries, including the US, South Korea, Australia, Britain, France and Japan, as well as the European Union, issued a joint statement on Dec 17 condemning Pyongyang and Moscow's military ties "in the strongest possible terms".

The statement said North Korea's support for Russia's war against Ukraine was a "dangerous expansion of the conflict" and a "flagrant violation" of United Nations' sanctions.

It urged the country to withdraw its troops from Russia.