US sanctions on N. Korea for VX use to kill Kim kin

Washington, March 7: The US has imposed new sanctions on North Korea for using chemical warfare agent VX to assassinate Kim Jong- un’s half- brother, the State Depa- rtment said on Wednesday.

On February 22, the US determined under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 ( CBW Act) that the Government of North Korea used the chemical warfare agent VX to assassinate Kim Jong Nam, in the Kuala Lumpur airport, State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said.

These sanctions are in addition to existing US comprehensive sanctions against targeting unlawful North Korean activities. The sanctions took effect upon publication of this determination in the Federal Register on Monday, she said.

However, the prohibitions appeared largely symbolic, as such sales to North Korea are governed under the Arms Export Control Act and barring

the export of national security- sensitive goods and technology to the country, which has no relations with the US.

“The US strongly condemns the use of chemical weapons to conduct an assassination. This public display of contempt for universal norms against chemical weapons use further demonstrates the reckless nature of North Korea and underscores that we cannot afford to tolerate a North Korean WMD program of any kind,” Nauert said.