US Sanctions North Korean and Russian Nationals Over North Korea Reconnaissance Satellite Launch

The U.S. government recently announced sanctions against North Korean nationals in connection with North Korea's reconnaissance satellite launch.

On the 31st (local time), the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a press release stating that it has added North Korean national Jeon Jin-young (42), Russian national Sergey Mikhailovich Kozlov (63), and Intellect LLC to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list on the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) website.

The Treasury Department explained, "This is a response to North Korea's failed reconnaissance satellite launch," adding, "The measures target individuals and entities that directly support North Korean organizations involved in the development of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) or help generate revenue for them."

According to the Treasury Department, Jeon Jin-young worked at Kozlov's company and coordinated the activities of North Korean construction workers in Russia. He also led a team of North Korean information technology (IT) workers in Russia and worked with Russian nationals to secure identification documents that allowed North Korean IT workers to work as freelancers on IT platforms. Among these efforts, he received support from Kozlov, including using the identities of Kozlov's family members or people employed by Kozlov.

Furthermore, Jeon Jin-young coordinated a construction project between a front company of North Korea's Second Academy of Natural Sciences, which is subject to sanctions by the U.S. and the United Nations Security Council, and Intellect LLC owned by Kozlov. The Second Academy of Natural Sciences is responsible for developing various ballistic missiles, including North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).

Brian Nelson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes at the Treasury Department, stated, "This action targets networks that enable North Korea's ballistic missile and WMD programs in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions," adding, "The United States will work closely with South Korea and Japan in joint efforts to counter North Korea's illicit and destructive activities."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.