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Foreign Policy

The US Aims Sanctions At North Korea's Missile Makers

The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions on two North Korean government officials involved in weapons development.

The US Aims Sanctions At North Korea's Missile Makers
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Lindsey Pulse
By Lindsey Pulse
SMS
Posted: 9:22 a.m. EST Dec 27, 2017

The U.S. is aiming sanctions at a pretty specific part of North Korea — its missile makers.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against two senior government officials, Kim Jong-sik and Ri Pyong-chol, in response to North Korea's ongoing development of its nuclear and missile programs.

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The department says Kim is a key figure in North Korea's ballistic missile development and its efforts to switch from liquid to solid fuel and that Ri is involved in developing the country's intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The sanctions are largely symbolic. They block most dealings between Kim, Ri and U.S. citizens and other interests the men might have in the U.S.