US Sanctions 3 Russian Companies and 1 Individual Involved in North Korean Ballistic Missile Transactions

Secretary Blinken "Will Not Hesitate to Take Additional Measures"

The United States has sanctioned three Russian companies and one individual involved in transferring North Korean ballistic missiles to Russia. Earlier, it was revealed that Russia used ballistic missiles provided by North Korea in its attack on Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on the 11th (local time), "The transfer of North Korean ballistic missiles to Russia supports Russia's war of aggression, exacerbates the suffering of the Ukrainian people, and undermines the global non-proliferation regime," announcing the sanctions.

Tony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State [Photo by AP Yonhap News]

Secretary Blinken stated that these entities have been involved in transferring North Korean ballistic missiles to Russia and Russia's testing of them since late November last year. He said, "The United States is closely monitoring all support Russia provides to North Korea in exchange for weapons," and added, "We will use all available means to identify and sanction individuals and entities involved in North Korea-Russia arms transactions." He also hinted at the possibility of expanding sanctions, saying, "We will not hesitate to take additional measures."

The sanctions target include ▲ the 224th Aviation Regiment, a Russian state-owned airline, and its head Vladimir Vladimirovich Mikeychik ▲ Vladimirovka Advanced Weapons and Research Complex (VAWARC) ▲ Ashuluk missile test site.

The 224th Aviation Regiment is a commercial air cargo transport service company separated from the Russian Air Force. The State Department stated that two cargo planes of this airline were involved in transporting North Korean ballistic missiles and related cargo in late November last year. VAWARC includes facilities, airfields, and missile test sites related to the transfer and testing of North Korean ballistic missiles in Russia.

Along with the sanctions, the State Department announced it would freeze the assets of four aircraft owned by the Russian Military Transport Aviation Command (VTA), as they were used to transfer North Korean ballistic missiles and related cargo between November and December last year.

The reason the United States has moved to sanction Russian companies and individuals is that Russia attacked Ukraine again on the 6th using ballistic missiles provided by North Korea. It was revealed that Russia attacked Ukraine with North Korean ballistic missiles on December 30 last year and on the 2nd of this year, and the attacks have continued since then. According to Kyodo News, the Ukrainian government identified one of the ballistic missiles used by Russia in the attack as the "North Korean version of Iskander" (KN-23).

Earlier, on the 9th, Secretary Blinken and foreign ministers from 47 countries issued a joint statement condemning North Korea's ballistic missile exports and Russia's use of the missiles. At that time, John Kirby, White House National Security Council (NSC) Coordinator for Strategic Communications, stated that Russia had received dozens of ballistic missiles from North Korea and that the North Korea-Russia ballistic missile transfers violate United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. He also said that the issue of North Korea-Russia arms transactions would be raised at the UNSC, and those who continue to expose and assist these arms trades would be sanctioned.

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