Trump Administration Clamps Down on North Korea’s Shipping, Ports
Image courtesy: The White HouseThe United States President Donald Trump has issued an executive order on imposing additional sanctions against North Korea in the wake of the latest nuclear missile tests that have heightened tensions between the two countries.
“The provocative, destabilizing, and repressive actions and policies of the Government of North Korea, including its intercontinental ballistic missile launches of July 3 and July 28, 2017, and its nuclear test of September 2, 2017,(…) constitute a continuing threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States, and a disturbance of the international relations of the United States,” the order reads.
The widened sanctions are targeting the country’s shipping industry, trade, ports, and manufacturing.
The economic pressure on the country is said to be aimed at cutting off sources of revenue that would support development of its nuclear program.
As a result, no vessel that has called at a port in North Korea within the previous 180 days, and no vessel that has engaged in a ship‑to‑ship transfer with such a vessel within the previous 180 days, may call at a port in the United States.
Furthermore, a blockade is being imposed on all property and interests of persons operating in the construction, energy, financial services, fishing, information technology, manufacturing, medical, mining, textiles, or transportation industries in North Korea.
The blockade also applies to owning, controlling, or operating any port in North Korea, including any seaport, airport, or land port of entry.
The full text of the order is available here.
