US sanctions North Korea over nuclear test

WASHINGTON – Responding to North Korea’s recent nuclear test and alleged violations of U.N. resolutions, the U.S. is issuing new sanctions to cut off money to the country and counter what the Treasury Department calls continued “provocative behaviour” by Pyongyang.

The U.S. sanctions imposed Friday follow a sweeping new round of U.N. sanctions aimed at choking North Korea’s nuclear program by cutting off foreign trade revenue. Pyongyang calls the U.N. action, the harshest to date, an “abuse of power” and says it will be met with tough countermeasures.

The U.S. action designates 16 entities and seven individuals for their suspected ties to the North Korean government or its nuclear and weapons proliferation effort. The action freezes assets they have in U.S. jurisdiction and bans Americans from doing business with them.