'You've made trouble, you have to block it.'
Following the series of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches on November 18, 3 individuals suspected of being involved were sanctioned by the United States (US) Treasury Department.
The three individuals identified are Jon Il Ho, vice director and Yu Jin director of North Korea's Weapons Industry Department and Kim Su Gil, Director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army from 2018 until 2021.
They are suspected of being involved in the development of North Korea's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) program which is the mastermind behind the country's ICBM production.
A statement from the Secretary of the Treasury's Department for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson explained that the three were sanctioned by the US after the European Union (EU) did the same in April.
He commented that in line with the 3-way coordination with South Korea and Japan, the Treasury decided to impose sanctions on the officials for their role in the WMD program.
The sanctions imposed are due to their involvement in the construction of ICBMs and launching them, in line with the sanctions by the United Nations Security Council Resolution.
It is understood that the sanctions will freeze all the assets of those individuals in an effort to prevent North Korea from obtaining any technology, resources and proceeds for the manufacture of missiles.
In general, North Korea at the beginning of last month launched a series of missiles after the US conducted military cooperation exercises that were considered provocations.
Pyongyang and Kim Jon Un then launched ICBM missiles towards South Korea and Japan, forcing the UN to intervene.
