U.S. sanctions N. Korea after missile tests
SEOUL, South Korea — The U.S. Treasury Department announced new sanctions Friday after North Korea had tested parts of its biggest intercontinental ballistic missile in two recent launches, a sign it is likely to fire that weapon soon to put a spy satellite into orbit in what would be its most significant provocation in years.
The Treasury Department noted a March 4 ballistic missile launch in unveiling restrictions against three Russian-based entities that aided ongoing development of North Korea’s military capabilities. The companies are Apollon, Zeel—M and RK Briz; two individuals tied to those companies will also be sanctioned.
The sanctions block access to any U.S. assets held by these companies, as well as Apollon director Aleksandr Andreyevich Gayevoy and Zeel—M director Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Chasovnikov, who also controls RK Briz.
Separately, South Korea’s Defense Ministry said it detected signs that North Korea was possibly restoring some of the tunnels at its nuclear testing ground that were detonated in May 2018, weeks ahead of leader Kim Jong Un’s first summit with then-President Donald Trump. The ministry didn’t say whether it believes the North was restoring the site to resume tests of nuclear explosives.
North Korea’s neighbors detected two ballistic launches last week. North Korea later said it was testing cameras and other systems to be installed on a spy satellite but didn’t disclose what missiles or rockets it used.
After analyzing the launches, the U.S. and South Korean militaries concluded they involved an ICBM system under development that North Korea first unveiled during a military parade in October 2020.
In a similar assessment, South Korea said North Korea must immediately stop any act that raises regional security concerns.
The ICBM in focus is the Hwasong-17,North Korea’s biggest missile, which could potentially fly up to 9,320 miles, far enough to strike anywhere in the U.S. and beyond. The 82-foot missile, which was shown again at a defense exhibition in North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, last year, has yet to be test-launched.
North Korea has already demonstrated the potential to reach the U.S. mainland with flight tests of other ICBMs, the Hwasong-14 and Hwasong-15, in 2017. Some analysts say developing a larger missile could mean it is trying to arm its long-range weapons with multiple warheads.
In 2018, North Korea unilaterally suspended long-range and nuclear tests before it entered nowdormant denuclearization talks with the United States. The talks collapsed in 2019 due to disputes over U.S.-led sanctions. Top North Korean officials recently hinted at lifting the moratorium.