US Imposes New North Korea Sanctions

Although the US and North Korea have made several
attempts in the past two years to engage in negotiations, last year talks
between the two countries stalled, with Washington refusing to lift sanctions
against Pyongyang and reduce its military presence in South Korea unless
Pyongyang denuclearises.
The US Department of the Treasury has imposed new
North Korea-related sanctions on a Russian construction company and a second
North Korean business that operates in Russia.
"Today’s action targets two entities, Mokran
LLC, a Russian construction company, and Korea Cholsan General Trading
Corporation, a North Korean company operating in Russia, for having engaged in,
facilitated, or been responsible for the exportation of forced labor from North
Korea, including exportation to generate revenue for the Government of North
Korea or Workers’ Party of Korea," the statement said.
Under the newly imposed sanctions, US companies and
individuals will be banned from having any trade with the companies on the
list.
US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader
Kim Jong-un met in 2018 during a historic summit in Singapore when they signed
an agreement according to which Pyongyang would abandon its nuclear weapons.
The second summit in early 2019 in Vietnam ended abruptly. Although the two
countries agreed to resume talks, no progress has been made since then and
Washington has refused to lift sanctions against North Korea and reduce its
military presence in South Korea unless Pyongyang denuclearises.