US hits firms over North Korea link

The Trump administration yesterday imposed sanctions on 16 mainly Chinese and Russian companies and people for assisting North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

The penalties are intended to complement new UN Secu- rity Council sanctions and further isolate North Korea for its nuclear and missile tests amid heightened tensions that have led to threats from both sides.

The 16 affected entities either do business with previously sanctioned companies and people, work with the North Korean energy sector, help it place workers abroad or facilitate its evasion of international financial curbs.

The measures block any assets the entities may have in US jurisdictions and bar Americans from transactions with them.