EU Expands North Korea Sanctions

The European Union imposed additional sanctions on North Korea Monday over nuclear and ballistic missile tests carried out in defiance of the UN Security Council.

The decision, implementing a November UN resolution, comes with North Korea in the international spotlight after the assassination in Kuala Lumpur airport of Kim Jong-Nam, the estranged half-brother of leader Kim Jong-Un.

The European Council, comprising the EU's 28 member states, said the new measures include restrictions on trade in coal, iron and iron ore, plus a ban on imports of copper, nickel, silver and zinc from North Korea.

The sale of new helicopters and vessels to North Korea was banned, while tighter controls were introduced on the transport, finance and property sectors.

Member states will also curb any teaching, training or scientific links which might benefit North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, it added.

EU sanctions against North Korea date back to 2006 and are part of international efforts to reverse a nuclear and ballistic missile programme which experts believe is intended to give Pyongyang the capability to hit the US mainland.

Source: Tasnimnews.