Azernews.Az

By Kamila Aliyeva

The global efforts to prevent Pyongyang from developing its nuclear ballistic missile program by putting pressure on the economy of the country continue as the European Union imposes a new set of unilateral sanctions against North Korea.

This was announced in a statement on North Korea, adopted at a meeting of the EU Council at the level of the foreign ministers in Luxembourg, TASS reported.

The new restrictions target oil trade, financial transactions and the establishment of joint ventures. Exports of European oil will be stopped and a ban on EU investment in North Korea will be expanded.

The new sanctions also put three officials and six organizations on the black list. They will be targeted by asset freezes and travel bans.

The banned luxury goods list will be reviewed and personal payments sent to the rogue state will be capped at 5,000 euros, down from the current 15,000 euros. There will also be tougher restrictions on North Korean citizens working in the EU member countries.

Sanctions come into effect immediately.

The EU action follows sanctions announced by the UN last month, which came after nuclear tests, missile tests and war-like rhetoric from the North Korean regime.

The United Nations Security Council has unanimously imposed a set of sanctions against North Korea on September 11 over the country’s hydrogen bomb test which was conducted on September 3.

The sanctions included limits on import of crude oil and oil products, a ban on textile exports and new visas for North Korean oversees workers.

However, North Korea tested another missile on September 15 in response to the latest set of sanctions imposed by the UN.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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