EU expands North Korea sanctions over military and economic cooperation with Russia
The European Union added three individuals and four companies to its sanctions list targeting North Korea on Oct. 12, citing growing military and economic cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow in violation of UN restrictions.
Among those sanctioned is Ri Song Jin, a North Korean missile official deployed to Russia as a technician supporting Russian forces' use of North Korean missiles, according to the Council of the EU.
The new listings also include Russian property developer Samolet Group and its CEO, Anna Akinshina, over the employment of North Korean workers on construction projects in Vladivostok, as well as businessman Vladimir Sokolov and companies linked to industrial cooperation with Pyongyang.
North Korean shipping company Paekyangsan Shipping was sanctioned over shipments of refined petroleum products from Russia to North Korea in violation of UN restrictions.
The measures include asset freezes, bans on providing funds or economic resources to those listed, and travel bans for the individuals concerned.
The Council noted that Russia had itself approved the UN Security Council restrictions now being violated through its cooperation with North Korea.
The latest additions bring the EU's autonomous sanctions list against North Korea to 80 individuals and 25 entities, alongside existing UN sanctions implemented by the bloc.