Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


S. Korea Sanctions 8 N. Koreans Over Arms Trade, Cyberattacks

by Reuters

   SEOUL, South Korea --

   South Korea imposed sanctions on eight North Koreans linked to nuclear
   and missile development through arms trade, cyberattacks and other
   illicit activities, Seoul's foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

   The sanctions came days after North Korea fired a new intercontinental
   ballistic missile, which South Korea and the United States strongly
   condemned as a grave violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

   The newly blacklisted people include Ri Chang Ho, head of the
   Reconnaissance General Bureau involved in overseas hacking operations,
   and Yun Chol, who helped supply nuclear materials while working at the
   North Korean Embassy in China, the ministry said.

   "The eight were involved in generating profits for the North Korean
   regime and financing nuclear weapons and missiles development by
   earning foreign currency through illegal cyber activities or stealing
   technology and trading sanctioned goods including weapons," it said in
   a statement.

   Amid a prolonged stalemate at the U.N., Seoul has sanctioned Pyongyang
   independently or together with Washington and Tokyo, seeking to squeeze
   its funding sources.

   South Korea has blacklisted 83 individuals and 53 entities related to
   North Korea's weapons programs since October 2022.