The United States has imposed sanctions on a Turkish company and several individuals for their alleged violation of sanctions against North Korea.
This comes as the Trump administration continues to slap sanctions on anyone dealing illegally with the regime.
Lee Seung-jae reports.
The U.S. Treasury Department said on Thursday that it's targeting Turkish company SIA Falcon International Group for attempting to trade in weapons and luxury goods with North Korea,... in breach of UN sanctions against the North.
Also sanctioned are the firm's CEO and general manager,... both Turkish nationals and North Korean diplomats.
According to the Treasury,... Ri Song-un,... the economic and commercial counselor at the North Korean embassy in Mongolia,... negotiated trade deals involving weapons and luxury goods with SIA Falcon officials in Turkey earlier this year.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said "the international community must not stand idly by as U.N. sanctions are being circumvented",... adding the U.S. "is deeply committed to the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea, and will continue to enforce and implement sanctions until that time."
The announcement comes ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's fourth visit to Pyeongyang,.. where he's set to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Sunday,... to discuss efforts to dismantle the regime's nuclear weapons program,... and set up a second summit with President Trump.
The UN sanctions are designed to deprive the regime of resources to fund its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
The latest U.S. sanctions freeze any property or interests of the targeted entity and individuals within the U.S. and bans Americans from doing business with them.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.