The United States has sanctioned two people and three entities connected to them for generating revenue for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) weapons programs, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) has announced.
The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Chilsong Trading Corporation and Korea Paekho Trading Corporation "for being agencies, instrumentalities, or controlled entities of the DPRK Government," the March 1 announcement reports. North Koreans Hwang Kil Su and Pak Hwa Song, along with Congo Aconde SARL, "entity owned or controlled by Pak," were also designated, according to the announcement.
“The United States is committed to countering DPRK efforts to fund its unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs that threaten international security. Today, @USTreasury designated three entities and two individuals that have generated revenue for the DPRK government,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in tweet posted the same day.
Chilsong Trading Corporation and Korea Paekho Trading Corp. are considered to be controlled by the North Korean government or the Workers' Party of Korea; Hwang Kil Su and Pak are said to have conducted commercial business that produced monies that was ultimately used by the North Korean government on its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, the Treasury Department reports in its sanctions announcement.
"Chilsong is subordinate to the Government of North Korea, which uses trading companies like Chilsong to earn foreign currency, collect intelligence, and provide cover status for intelligence operatives," the agency states in the announcement.
Paekho has produced funding for the DPRK since the 1980s, according to OFAC, by directing construction and art projects for regimes in Africa and the Middle East. OFAC states Paekho is subordinate to DPRK's Ministry of People’s Armed Forces (MPAF). OFAC designated MPAF on June 1, 2017 and the United Nations did the same in December 2017, the statement report.
Additionally, Congo Aconde SARL, a company established by Pak and Hwang in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has been designated for being owned or controlled by them and for acting on behalf of Paekho, according to the Treasury Department press release. The European Union has also previously designated these entities and individuals for supporting North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs and engaging in sanctions evasion.
“The DPRK’s unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs threaten international security and regional stability," Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson said the announcement. “The United States remains committed to targeting the regime's global illicit networks that generate revenue for these destabilizing activities.”
