US slaps sanctions on N Korea

2002-08-23 09:03

Washington - The White House has imposed sanctions on North Korea for selling Scud missile components to Yemen, The New York Times said on Friday quoting US officials.

While the sanctions are merely symbolic - the United States has no trade with North Korea - a US official said they are important.

"We are making a statement to the world that North Korea engages in dangerous and illicit activity," the unidentified official said.

"We are making it clear that if you are a friend of the United States or civil society these are characters you do not want to be associated with."

The Washington Post daily, which also carries the story without indicating to whom the missile parts were sold, said the US government will announce its sanction decision on Friday.

The Post also said the trade sanctions will last two years and are the first to be imposed on North Korea for weapons or materials sales since April 2000.

The sanctions target the Changgwang Sinyong Corporation in North Korea, the marketing arm for Pyongyang's missile export programme, and the North Korean government, for its work on missile technology electronics, space systems or equipment and military aircraft.

The Times said the sale of Scud missile components to Yemen occurred during the administration of former US president Bill Clinton.

The United States has also raised concerns with Yemen, which has indicated that it does not plan to buy any more missile technology from North Korea, the US officials told the Times.

The sanctions decision comes at a time of thawing relations between Washington and Pyongyang. Secretary of State Colin Powell met his North Korean counterpart Paek Nam Sun last month on the sidelines of an Asian regional meeting.

And they come on the eve of a visit to the region by Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton to discuss defence and security issues. He will be in Seoul from August 28 to 30. - Sapa-AFP

- SAPA