In yet another move to intensify pressure against North Korea, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced on Feb. 23 its largest tranche of sanctions against the Kim regime to date. Sanctions remain the primary component of the Trump administration’s maximum pressure and engagement strategy, which seeks to isolate North Korea from the international financial system and stem the tide of the country’s illicit missile and nuclear weapons programs. This latest batch of sanctions targeted one individual, 27 entities and 28 vessels, many of which are located outside of geographic North Korea. In addition to targeting North Korean entities, new sanctions target Chinese entities that help Pyongyang avoid the bite of sanctions. In spite of China’s verbal commitments to support and uphold U.S. and international sanctions against North Korea, it has often come to the aid of its ally.

Source: Forbes March 01, 2018 21:11 UTC