New sanctions imposed on North Korea

The United States imposed fresh sanctions on North Korea after its recent spy satellite launch. The sanctions target foreign-based agents facilitating sanctions evasion and a cyber espionage group, Kimsuky, accused of supporting North Korea's strategic and nuclear ambitions. The action, coordinated with Australia, Japan, and Korea, freezes assets and generally bars Americans from dealing with the targets. The U.S. Treasury Department's statement emphasized collective commitment to contesting Pyongyang's illicit activities. The sanctions also targeted Iran and China-based representatives of U.S. and UN-designated Green Pine, responsible for half of North Korea's arms exports.