US sanctions individuals, entities over Russia, N.Korea ties

The US Treasury Department has announced a fresh round of sanctions targeting individuals and entities linked to Russia and North Korea, accusing them of helping circumvent existing US and international restrictions.

In one announcement, the Treasury designated two Russian entities and two Russian individuals for allegedly providing assistance to an already sanctioned Russian organisation. The action was described as an effort to prevent attempts to evade US sanctions.

"The Treasury Department is disrupting Russian efforts to circumvent our sanctions," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said.

Under the sanctions, any property and interests in property belonging to the designated individuals and entities that fall under US jurisdiction are blocked. US citizens and companies are also generally barred from conducting transactions with those targeted.

In a separate action, the Treasury imposed sanctions on two entities and six vessels over alleged violations of sanctions imposed on North Korea.

The US said the vessels were involved in ship-to-ship transfers of refined petroleum products involving North Korean-flagged ships. Such transfers are prohibited under United Nations Security Council sanctions aimed at restricting North Korea's access to resources that could support its weapons programmes.

Mnuchin warned that the restrictions would remain in place until North Korea completes what Washington considers the final and fully verified denuclearisation of the country.

"Consequences for violating these sanctions will remain in place" until that objective is achieved, he said.

The latest measures add to the growing list of sanctions imposed by the administration of US President Donald Trump against entities and individuals accused of activities considered threatening to US interests or of helping sanctioned countries and organisations bypass international restrictions.

The actions also underline Washington's continued use of financial sanctions as a key foreign-policy tool against Russia and North Korea.