Sanctions: Ten companies and individuals added to UN Sanctions list for DPR Korea

The United Nations Security Council has imposed sanctions on five companies and five individuals in connection with the nuclear test carried out by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in May.
The sanctions were imposed yesterday by the Council committee set up by a resolution in 2006 which demanded that the country “not conduct any further nuclear test or launch of a ballistic missile,” following its claims to have conducted a nuclear test in October of that year.
Last month, the 15-member Council unanimously adopted a resolution that condemned the 25 May nuclear test conducted in “violation and flagrant disregard” of relevant Council resolutions, a move that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon sent a “clear and strong” message to Pyongyang.
It also demanded that the DPRK “not conduct any further nuclear test or any launch using ballistic missile technology.”
The Council imposed a series of measures on the DPRK that include tougher inspections of cargo suspected of containing banned items related to the country’s nuclear and ballistic missile activities, a tighter arms embargo with the exception of light weapons, and new financial restrictions.
Companies added to the list include Namchongang Trading Corporation, which the committee said has been involved in procuring Japanese-made vacuum pumps identified at a DRPK nuclear facility.
Also making the list is the General Bureau of Atomic Energy (GBAE), which is responsible for the DPRK’s nuclear programme, including the Yongbyon Nuclear Research Centre and its plutonium production research reactor, according to the committee.
Individuals targeted by the list include top officials from both the Namchongang Trading Corporation and the GBAE.
The Council committee also singled out two goods – graphite for machinery and para-aramid fibre – for inclusion on the sanctions list.
Last week, the Council expressed “grave concerns” over the DPRK’s 4 July ballistic missile tests, appealing to all parties to refrain from any actions that might escalate the situation and reiterating their commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic solution to the issue.

1. NAMCHONGANG TRADING CORPORATION

· Description: Namchongang is a Democratic People’s Republic of Korea trading company subordinate to the General Bureau of Atomic Energy (GBAE). Namchongang has been involved in the procurement of Japanese-origin vacuum pumps that were identified at a Democratic People’s Republic of Korea nuclear facility, as well as nuclear-related procurement associated with a German individual. It has further been involved in the purchase of aluminium tubes and other equipment specifically suitable for a uranium enrichment programme from the late 1990s. Its representative is a former diplomat who served as Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s representative for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspection of the Yongbyon nuclear facilities in 2007. Namchongang’s proliferation activities are of grave concern given the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s past proliferation activities.

· Location: Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

· A.K.A.: NCG; NAMCHONGANG TRADING; NAM CHON GANG CORPORATION; NOMCHONGANG TRADING CO.; NAM CHONG GAN TRADING CORPORATION

2. HONG KONG ELECTRONICS

· Description: owned or controlled by, or acts or purports to act for or on behalf of Tanchon Commercial Bank and KOMID. Hong Kong Electronics has transferred millions of dollars of proliferation-related funds on behalf of Tanchon Commercial Bank and KOMID (both designated by the Committee in April 2009) since 2007. Hong Kong Electronics has facilitated the movement of money from Iran to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on behalf of KOMID.

· Location: Sanaee St., Kish Island, Iran.

· A.K.A.: HONG KONG ELECTRONICS KISH CO.

3. KOREA HYOKSIN TRADING CORPORATION

· Description: a Democratic People’s Republic of Korea company based in Pyongyang that is subordinate to Korea Ryonbong General Corporation (designated by the Committee in April 2009) and is involved in the development of weapons of mass destruction.

· Location: Rakwon-dong, Pothonggang District, Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

· A.K.A.: KOREA HYOKSIN EXPORT AND IMPORT CORPORATION

4. General Bureau of Atomic Energy (GBAE)

· Description: The GBAE is responsible for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear programme, which includes the Yongbyon Nuclear Research Centre and its 5 MWe (25 MWt) plutonium production research reactor, as well as its fuel fabrication and reprocessing facilities. The GBAE has held nuclear-related meetings and discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency. GBAE is the primary Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Government agency that oversees nuclear programmes, including the operation of the Yongbyon Nuclear Research Centre.

· Location: Haeudong, Pyongchen District, Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

· A.K.A.: General Department of Atomic Energy (GDAE)

5. Korean Tangun Trading Corporation

· Description: Korea Tangun Trading Corporation is subordinate to Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s Second Academy of Natural Sciences and is primarily responsible for the procurement of commodities and technologies to support Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s defence research and development programmes, including, but not limited to, weapons of mass destruction and delivery system programmes and procurement, including materials that are controlled or prohibited under relevant multilateral control regimes.

· Location: Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

B) Goods determined to be subject to the measures imposed in paragraph 8(a)(ii) of resolution 1718 (2006):

1) “Graphite designed or specified for use in Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) machines”

2) “Para-aramid fiber (Kevlar and other Kevlar-like), filament and tape”

C) Individuals designated to be subject to the measures imposed in paragraphs 8 (d) and (e) of resolution 1718 (2006):

1. Yun Ho-jin: Director of Namchongang Trading Corporation; oversees the import of items needed for the uranium enrichment programme. (Additional information: born 13 October 1944; also known as Yun Ho-chin)

2. Ri Je-son: Director of the General Bureau of Atomic Energy (GBAE), chief agency directing Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear programme; facilitates several nuclear endeavours including GBAE’s management of Yongbyon Nuclear Research Centre and Namchongang Trading Corporation. (Additional information: born 1938; also known as Ri Che-son)

3. Hwang Sok-hwa: Directorin the General Bureau of Atomic Energy (GBAE); involved in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear programme; as Chief of the Scientific Guidance Bureau in the GBAE, served on the Science Committee inside the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research.

4. Ri Hong-sop: Former director, Yongbyon Nuclear Research Centre, oversaw three core facilities that assist in the production of weapons-grade plutonium: the Fuel Fabrication Facility, the Nuclear Reactor, and the Reprocessing Plant. (Additional information: born 1940)

5. Han Yu-ro: Director of Korea Ryongaksan General Trading Corporation; involved in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s ballistic missile programme.