South Korea targets North Korean military leaders in new sanctions over Russia ties Japan considers too

South Korea has announced a new round of sanctions targeting four North Korean individuals believed to have been deployed to Russia to support its ongoing war against Ukraine. 

This move, confirmed on December 17, marks the first such sanctions since reports emerged of North Korea’s troop involvement in the conflict, Caliber.Az reports via South Korean media.

The sanctions come after a joint statement from South Korea, the United States, the European Union, and eight other nations strongly condemned the growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.

The statement expressed alarm over the deepening ties between the two countries, particularly as North Korean forces are reported to be active in the war's frontline regions.

Among the sanctioned individuals are Kim Yong-bok, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, and Sin Kum-chol, Director of its Operations Bureau. The list also includes Ri Pong-chun, an army general thought to be leading North Korea's "Storm Corps" special troops deployed to Russia’s western front. Ri Song-jin, a missile developer who is believed to be operating in the war’s border regions, has also been added to the list.

In addition to these individuals, South Korea has targeted seven other people and 15 entities involved in illicit military cooperation with Russia, in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. These sanctions aim to disrupt the financial and material support for North Korea’s missile and nuclear programmes.

The new sanctions are set to take effect on December 19, further isolating North Korea from the international community. In response to the escalating military collaboration between Russia and North Korea, Japan is also considering additional restrictive measures.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi confirmed that Japan is coordinating closely with the United States and other allied nations, with more details on the measures expected to be announced soon.

The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, as the geopolitical ramifications of the Russia-North Korea alliance unfold.

By Aghakazim Guliyev