 |
| ▲ This file photo, released by the Korean Central News Agency on Oct. 31, 2024, shows North Korean generals, marked in white circles, who are believed to have been deployed to Russia in support of its war against Ukraine. (From L to R) Shin Geum-cheol, director of the operations bureau of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army; Kim Yong-bok, deputy chief of the same department; and Ri Chang-ho, director of the Reconnaissance General Bureau are pictured. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) |
(LEAD) S Korea-NK sanctions
(LEAD) S. Korea sanctions top N.K. military officers, missile developer involved in Russia's war against Ukraine
(ATTN: RECASTS lead; ADDS details from para 7)
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, Dec. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Tuesday it will impose sanctions on three top North Korean military officers and one missile developer believed to have been deployed to Russia in support of its war against Ukraine, the first such sanctions designation since the North's troop deployment was confirmed.
The announcement came after South Korea, the United States, the European Union and eight other countries issued a statement condemning the deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia in the "strongest possible terms."
Kim Yong-bok, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, and Sin Kum-chol, director of its operations bureau, were among the 11 individuals added to South Korea's independent sanctions list, the foreign ministry said in a release.
The list also includes Ri Pong-chun, an army general who's allegedly heading the "Storm Corps" special troops deployed to Russia's western war front lines, and Ri Song-jin, a missile developer believed to have been sent to the war border regions.
South Korea also imposed sanctions on seven other individuals and 15 entities for their involvement in illegal military cooperation with Russia in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions banning such activities.
They were designated for their roles in procuring funds and materials for the North's development of nuclear and missile programs.
The seven other individuals are all Russians suspected of involvement in arms trades with the North, from financing support and provision of military communication equipment to weapons transportation.
The 15 sanctioned entities are mostly Russian, except for the Storm Corps and a bank based in South Ossetia, a Russia-backed autonomous state in Georgia.
The new sanctions designation will take effect Thursday.
The latest sanctions designation by Seoul followed the U.S. announcement on its own sanctions against North Koreans involved in the Ukraine war. The list also included Kim Yong-bok and Ri Chang-ho, along with 14 other individuals and entities.
(END)
(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved
