The United States is sanctioning two Chinese shipping companies linked to helping North Korea evade sanctions.
The move comes amid reports North Korea has been getting around sanctions through illegal ship-to-ship transactions.
Amid concerning reports North Korea has been able to elude both UN and U.S. sanctions via illicit ship-to-ship transfers, the U.S. Treasury Department announced on Thursday local time, that it is sanctioning two Chinese shipping companies, Dalian Haibo International Freight and Lianoning Danxing International Forwarding, for aiding the regime in evading sanctions.
The Treasury Department says Dalian Haibo provided goods and services to or in support of Paeksol Trading Corporation, a North Korean entity previously sanctioned for engaging and providing revenue to the regime.
Liaoning Danxing operated in the transportation industry in North Korea and used what the U.S. called "deceptive practices."
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the United States and their allies remain committed to achieving the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea, adding that the full implementation of UN Security Council sanctions is "crucial to a successful outcome".
The last time the U.S. issued sanctions against North Korea was in December when it targeted Choe Ryong-hae, a close aide to the North Korean leader, for human rights abuses.
U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton has now revealed 'several alternatives' were presented to Kim Jong-un by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking with Breitbart News on Wednesday, Bolton did not elaborate on what the alternatives were, except to describe again the "big deal" he said President Trump put on the table in Hanoi.
Asked to explain what victory would look like, Bolton reaffirmed the main objective is North Korea giving up its nuclear weapons.
North Korea will have its first meeting of the new parliament next month after its recent election of deputies.
Pyeongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency reports that the regime will hold the first session of its 14th Supreme People's Assembly on April 11th.
The Supreme People's Assembly is the regime's parliament that ratifies decisions made by the ruling party, enacts laws and reviews the state budget.
687 deputies were elected for the 14th assembly last week and for the first time, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was not included.
The meeting draws attention to what changes the regime might make on its ruling system and personnel as well as on foreign policies and its nuclear and missile program.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's close aide is in Moscow, possibly to organize the leader's visit to Russia.
According to sources in Moscow and Beijing, Kim Chang-son, the chief secretary of the regime's State Affairs Commission, arrived in Moscow on Tuesday.
They say that Kim visited the Kremlin for an hour on Thursday.
Kim Chang-son is the man in charge of protocols and logistics for Kim Jong-un's summit meetings.
His visit to Moscow hints that Kim Jong-un may soon visit the country and have a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss bilateral ties and international sanctions.
The EU says it agrees with South Korea,that the world should work to maintain the current momentum for dialogue
between North Korea and the U.S.
South Koreans gathered to honor the soldiers who lost their lives defending their country against attacks from North Korea at a ceremony marking West Sea Defense Day.
Some seven-thousand people including bereaved family members, Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and military personnel participated in a ceremony held today at the Daejeon National Cemetery.
Source: Arirang News
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