The United States has imposed sanctions on six targets involved in generating revenue for North Korea, specifically focusing on the procurement of military materiel for Burma’s military regime. The action is intended to disrupt networks that facilitate attacks on civilian infrastructure in Burma and to cut off funding for North Korea's weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs.
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated one company and five individuals for their roles in arms trafficking and supporting the North Korean regime. The sanctioned entity is Royal Shune Lei Company Limited, based in Burma, along with its key personnel: Kyaw Thu Myo Myint and Tin Myo Aung, who facilitated weapons deals between the Burmese Air Force and Kim Yong Ju. Kim Yong Ju is identified as the Beijing-based deputy representative of the Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation (KOMID), which serves as North Korea’s main arms dealer and exporter of missile-related equipment.
Aung Ko Ko Oo, a director at Royal Shune Lei, was also designated. In addition, Nam Chol Ung, a North Korean national accused of laundering foreign currency earnings through businesses across Southeast Asia, was sanctioned for his role as a representative of North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau.
“These actions underscore the United States’ commitment to disrupting networks that support the DPRK’s destabilizing activities and to promoting accountability for those who enable Burma’s military regime. We welcome collaboration with our international partners, including through the G7+ DPRK Sanctions Contact Group, to ensure coordinated sanctions efforts against these entities and individuals,” said Thomas “Tommy” Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson.
The Treasury Department stated that these measures were taken under Executive Orders 13687, 13551, and 14014. Additional information can be found in Treasury's press releases.