Taipei, Taiwan-Great Britain imposed sanctions on senior North Korean officials linked to the support of their country in the Russian war against Ukraine in the context of what the United Kingdom said it was its greatest Set of sanctions against individuals and Russian institutions since the first days of war.
According to Ukraine and the United States, 12,000 North Korean soldiers are in Russia to fight the Ukrainian forces which occupied parts of the Kursk Russia region in August.
The British Foreign Office sanctions announced Against five North Korean defense officials on Monday to mark the third anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
They understood Kim Yong Bok, No Kwang Chol, Ri Song Jin, Ri Chang Ho and Sin Kum Chol, as well as 102 other individuals and entities.
Kim Yong Bok, deputy chief of the Korean People’s People’s Army, would have arrived In Russia in October to supervise the North Korean troops that help Russia.
Kim’s profile has increased in the past year. His post as deputy chief of the army was confirmed when he was reported in the state media as a member of the entourage of leader Kim Jong one during a visit to a operational training base in the ‘West of North Korea in March.
No Kwang Chol is known to have played a major role in strengthening military links with Moscow since his resumption of his post as Minister of Defense in October, in particular by holding talks with his Russian counterpart, Andrei Belousov, in November .
Ri Song Jin, the best missile engineer in the North, has taken into account in recent years as manager of the National Aerospace Technology Administration and the General Missile Missile, often appearing alongside Kim Jong one on military sites.
RI Chang Ho occupies a high-ranking position in the hierarchy of North Korea as head of the general recognition office sanctioned by the United States, its main military intelligence agency, while Sin Kum Chol is director of the office of the office of General Staff of the Korean People’s Army.
RI Chang Ho and Sin Kum Cho were also included in the list of sanctions announced on Monday by the European Union, alongside more than 80 people and entities, to support Russian war efforts in Ukraine.
The United Kingdom added that it also sanctioned producers and suppliers of machine tools, electronics and double-use products, including microprocessors used in weapons systems. These were based in a range of third countries, including the Central Asian states, Turkey, Thailand, India and China.
There was no immediate response from Russia or North Korea to British sanctions, but a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London said they had harmed the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies , adding that they had “no basis in international law”.
“China firmly opposes this and has made solemn representations on the British side,” the embassy said in a statement on its website.
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Australia, New Zealand and Canada
The British allies of Commonwealth, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, have joined sanctions in Russia and people and entities promoting military cooperation between it and North Korea.
Australia announced on Tuesday that financial sanctions and travel bans had been imposed on 70 people, while financial sanctions were imposed on 79 companies, adding that individuals supported the occupation of Russia in Ukrainian territories.
New Zealand has also announced sanctions against 52 entities and individuals linked to the Russian Military Military Complex, the Energy Sector, the support of North Korea to the Russia War and the expulsion or to Forced rehabilitation of Ukrainian children.
Three North Korean officials – Kim Yong Bok, RI Chang Ho and Sin Kum Chol – were included in the list of sanctions by Australia and New Zealand.
In addition, Canada announced sanctions on Friday against 76 people and entities and 109 ships related to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Although Canada has not targeted North Korean officials, it included several companies that have been involved in North Korean-Russia cooperation.
These include the company Bunkinging Toplivo Bunking Company, Vostochnaya Stevedring Company, Global Ports Manage Company, Azia Shipping Holding and Ibex Shipping.
North Korea and Russia have deepened their military and economic ties in recent months, Pyongyang would have provided Moscow large amounts of ammunition and other military aid for its war in Ukraine.
In return, Russia has provided technological assistance and extended cooperation in various sectors, fueling concerns about potential weapons transfers and security threats.
High -level meetings between officials from the two countries, including the Defense Ministers, reported an increasing strategic partnership.
Edited by Mike Firn.