South Korea has imposed sanctions on North Korea and Russia over their military cooperation. The restrictions target individuals, companies, and organizations involved in the collaboration.
According to the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, sanctions have been applied to 11 individuals and 15 organizations linked to military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, as well as the funding of North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes.
The measures will take effect on December 19 and will affect key figures and companies. Among those included in the sanctions list are generals of the Korean People's Army Kim Yon Bok and Sin Gum Chol, missile engineer Lee Song Jin, and other senior officials of North Korea's armed forces, including Lee Bong Chun.
The sanctions also cover entrepreneurs and companies that support North Korea's military infrastructure, including the company "Parsec," which is suspected of supplying key materials and technologies for North Korea's missile programme.
From Russia, 7 individuals and 13 companies, including several banks, have been added to the sanctions list.
It has been reported that conducting financial and currency transactions with these entities will now require approval from the South Korean government.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea emphasized that these sanctions are a response to a recent statement by the foreign ministers of Western countries, published on December 16, condemning the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea as a threat to regional and global security.
North Korea is actively supporting Russia in its military aggression against Ukraine, providing both military equipment and personnel.
North Korean soldiers have been stationed in Russia's Kursk region, where they have already suffered casualties. It is currently known that Russia may deploy North Korean soldiers to the eastern front.
There have also been reports of some North Korean soldiers attempting to flee their positions.