By Serafin Gómez and Judson Berger, Fox News
President Trump on Friday announced what he called the “heaviest”-ever set of sanctions on North Korea, targeting the regime’s shipping and trading companies as tensions flare anew with Pyongyang.
The president mentioned the plan during the very end of a lengthy and freewheeling address to the Conservative Political Action Conference outside Washington.
“We imposed today the heaviest sanctions ever imposed on a country before,” Trump said. “Hopefully, something positive can happen.”
Under the plan, the Treasury Department aims to cut off sources of revenue and fuel used to boost the country’s nuclear program and military. The sanctions specifically target one individual, 27 entities, and 28 vessels.
The administration also put out an advisory warning of sanctions risks for those who enable the shipment of goods to and from North Korea.
“Treasury is aggressively targeting all illicit avenues used by North Korea to evade sanctions, including taking decisive action to block the vessels, shipping companies, and entities across the globe that work on North Korea’s behalf,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.
In a conference call with reporters shortly before the Trump speech, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control detailed the sanctions – which are aimed at, among other things, hindering the regime’s ability to transport coal and fuel in international waters. Officials said the sanctions are meant to further isolate the regime and advance a U.S.-led pressure campaign.
“We are aggressively targeting their abilities,” a senior administration official said on the call.
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