U.S. Sanctions Vietnam-Based North Korean Operative | Kharon The Kharon Brief

U.S. Sanctions Vietnam-Based North Korean Operative

The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions Monday on a North Korean individual operating from Vietnam. 

Kim Su Il is an employee of the Munitions Industry Department (MID), a subordinate of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) that is sanctioned by both the United Nations and the U.S. for its involvement in key aspects of the North Korean missile program, the Treasury said. His designation reflects ongoing enforcement of U.N. and U.S. sanctions, according to the Treasury Department. 

Kim... has violated [U.N. Security Council Resolutions] and supports North Korea’s weapons program,” said Treasury Under Secretary Sigal Mandelker.

Kim was assigned to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in 2016 to perform economic, trading, mining and shipping activities associated with the MID, according to the Treasury. The MID was sanctioned in 2010. Kim was sanctioned pursuant to a 2015 executive order authorizing designations of any official of the WPK

As of early 2019, Kim was responsible for exporting anthracite coal, titanium ore concentrate and other North Korean domestic products, the Treasury said; he also was involved in importing and exporting other goods, including raw materials, to and from North Korea, as well as ship chartering, according to the Treasury. Kim also was responsible for exporting Vietnamese products to China, North Korea and other countries, the Treasury said.