U.S. sanctions DPRK envoy to Myanmar, three others for alleged links to DPRK weapons trade

The U.S. government on Friday announced sanctions against four individuals from the Democratic People's Republic of Korean (DPRK), including its ambassador to Myanmar, and a DPRK company based in Egypt for alleged links to the DPRK weapons trade and illicit financial activities.

All the four individuals and the company sanctioned are linked to the Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation (KOMID), which was previously sanctioned by the U.S. and the United Nations, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement.

Kim Sok Chol, DPRK's Ambassador to Myanmar, was claimed to have acted as a KOMID facilitator who provides his assistance and arranges meetings on behalf of KOMID, including a meeting between KOMID and Myanmar's defense-related persons to discuss financial matters.

Kim Kwang Hyok, a KOMID official in Myanmar who works with Kim Sok Chol, and Ri Chong Chol, a KOMID official in Pyongyang, were also designated for acting for or on behalf of KOMID.

Meanwhile, Hwang Su Man and EKO Development and Investment Company, a DPRK-owned entity based in Egypt, were sanctioned for materially assisting and providing support to and acting for or on behalf of KOMID, the statement said.

"Hwang Su Man and his company have helped KOMID market North Korean weapons systems to foreign countries," it said.

The action "is designed to counter North Korea's attempts to circumvent U.S. and United Nations sanctions, as well as maintain the effectiveness of U.S. sanctions on individuals and entities that are linked to the North Korean Government's weapons of mass destruction procurement network," the statement added.

Under the sanctions, any property or interest in property of the designated persons and entity in the possession of U.S. persons or within U.S. jurisdiction must be frozen, while U.S. citizens are prohibited from having transactions with the designated persons and entity. Enditem