The US Treasury named six vessels and their respective owners to a list of entities sanctioned for their dealings with North Korea.
The latest round of blacklisted vessels and their owners comes as Japan alleges another two vessels as likely embarking on a ship-to-ship transfer to evade United Nations sanctions on trade with North Korea.
The United Nations Security Council voted last Friday on additional sanctions on North Korea further shutting down its ability to raise illicit funds.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned 5.043-dwt Goo Ryong (built 1982) owned by Gooryong Shipping Co; the 6,623-dwt Hwa Song (built 1982) owned by Hwasong Shipping; the 2,070-dwt Kum Un San (built 1988) owned by Korea Kumunsan Shipping; the 2,38-dwt Un Ryul (built 1985) and the 3,546-dwt Ever Glory (built 1989) both owned by Korea Marine & Industrial Trading; and the 5,626-dwt Ul Ji Bong (built 1995) owned by CK International.
The Ul Ji Bong is suspected of delivering coal to Kholmsk, Russia.
OFAC says the sanctions target entities that contribute to finance the Kim Jong-un regime or otherwise supporting North Korea's nuclear programs and other illicit businesses.
As a result of today's action, any property or interests in property of the designated persons in the possession or control of US persons or within the United States must be blocked, and US persons are prohibited from dealing with any of the designated parties.
“Treasury is targeting leaders of North Korea’s ballistic missile programs, as part of our maximum pressure campaign to isolate (North Korea) and achieve a fully denuclearized Korean Peninsula,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
