European Union member states agreed Monday to extend sanctions against North Korea to eight individuals and four entities involved in or providing support and funding for Pyongyang’s nuclear-related programs and ballistic tests.
Among the sanctioned entities, the EU includes two oil tankers and delivery vessels for their involvement in actions that violate UN Security Council resolutions. In addition, it adds the North Korean Ministry of Rocket Industry for its role in the procurement of components for use in the development of nuclear and missile technology banned by the United Nations.
With this step, the EU-27 keep 73 persons and 17 entities on its ‘blacklist’, so that, under these restrictions, they are banned from entering the EU and have their assets frozen in European territory.
These measures come in response to the tensions in the region after North Korea launched dozens of ballistic missiles during the month of November in tests prohibited by UN Security Council resolutions, an action that Pyongyang justifies by the U.S.-Korean military maneuvers and considers an invasion test.
