Obama signs fresh sanctions against North Korea

The US president has approved a document passed last week in Congress. Assets frozen of anyone doing business with the North Korean nuclear program  or involved in human rights abuses. 50 million paid for humanitarian programs and propaganda against the regime of Kim Jong-un.

Washington (AsiaNews / Agencies) - US President Barack Obama has signed new sanctions against North Korea, after the refusal of the Pyongyang regime to halt its nuclear program and follows the launch of a long-range missile a few days ago. The new measures were approved last week by Congress and aim to reduce the availability of cash to Kim Jong-un.

A resolution of the Korean crisis is still being considered by the UN Security Council, with China warning that further sanctions could cripple the economy of North Korea.

The measures signed by Obama freeze the assets of anyone doing business with the North Korean nuclear program be that in selling weapons to the regime, or being involved in human rights abuses. The document also authorizes the payment of $ 50 million for humanitarian programs and radio broadcasts in North Korea.

In a statement, the South Korea foreign minister said that the measures are "the first that exclusively target the DPRK, and were approved quickly." Seoul announced that it will discuss with the development of a missile defense system with Washington.

A few days ago, Pyongyang launched a long-range rocket, with prohibited missile technology, and the regime's television announced that the regime "has successfully placed a satellite in orbit." The day after the launch, Obama called the act "provocative", and added that North Korea has "repeatedly violated UN resolutions, tested and produced nuclear weapons, and is now perfecting its missile system" .

• USA
• North Korea
• sanctions
• nuclear progam
• missile launch
• propaganda
• Kim Jong-un
• President Obama
• Congress