South Korea sanctions North Korean entities after missile launch

North Korea test-launched the solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-18 on July 12, 2023

According to Yonhap news agency, on July 14, South Korea imposed unilateral sanctions on four individuals and three North Korean entities after Pyongyang test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

The four individuals sanctioned include current and former senior North Korean officials, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said.

Among the three entities hit with sanctions is a North Korean trading company involved in construction activities in Africa and the Middle East.

Meanwhile, South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi are scheduled to hold trilateral talks in Jakarta, Indonesia, on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings.

According to Yonhap, the talks are aimed at finding ways to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

Previously, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) confirmed that North Korea had test-launched a Hwasong-18 missile into the East Sea on July 12.

According to KCNA, the launch was conducted under the direction of leader Kim Jong-un, to confirm the capability and reliability of North Korea's new strategic weapons system. The US, South Korea and Japan have reacted strongly to this launch.

The launch came amid recent strong criticism from North Korea, which accused US spy planes of violating the airspace of its economic zones.

Pyongyang also criticized the recent visit of a US nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine to South Korea, vowing to take retaliatory steps.

According to VNA