Treasury Identifies Eight North Korean Weapons Proliferators
21 October 2005
Department prohibits transactions with designated entities, freezes assets
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has designated eight North Korean entities believed to be contributing to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and took action to freeze any assets the entities may have under U.S. jurisdiction. The action also prohibits all transactions between the designated entities and any U.S. citizen.
According to an October 21 Treasury news release, the designation is pursuant to Executive Order 13382, an authority aimed at freezing the assets of proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery vehicles.
The eight entities designated are: Heson Trading Corporation, Korea Complex Equipment Import Corporation, Korea International Chemical Joint Venture Company, Korea Kwangsong Trading Corporation, Korea Pugang Trading Coroporation, Korea Ryongwang Trading Corporation, Korea Ryonha Machinery Joint Venture Corporation and Tosong Technology Trading Corporation.
For more information on U.S. policy, see U.S. Policy Toward North Korea and Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.
Following is the text of the Treasury news release:
(begin text)
United States Department of the Treasury
[Washington, D.C.]
Press Room
October 21, 2005
JS-2984
TREASURY TARGETS NORTH KOREAN ENTITIES FOR SUPPORTING WMD PROLIFERATION
The U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated eight North Korean entities pursuant to Executive Order 13382, an authority aimed at freezing the assets of proliferators of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their delivery vehicles. Today's action prohibits all transactions between the designated entities and any U.S. person and freezes any assets the entities may have under U.S. jurisdiction.
"Proliferators of WMD often rely on front companies to mask their illicit activities and cover their tracks," said Stuart Levey, the Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI). "Today's action turns a spotlight on eight firms involved in WMD proliferation out of North Korea. We will continue to expose and designate these dangerous actors."
Today's action builds on President Bush's issuance of E.O. 13382 on June 29, 2005. The Order carried with it an annex that designated eight entities – operating in North Korea, Iran, and Syria – for their support of WMD proliferation. The President at that time also authorized the Secretaries of Treasury and State to designate additional entities and individuals proliferating WMD and the missiles that carry them.
Korea Mining Development Corporation (KOMID), which was designated in the annex of E.O. 13382, is the parent company of two of the Pyongyang-based entities designated today, Hesong Trading Corporation and Tosong Technology Trading Corporation. These direct associations meet the criteria for designation because the entities are owned or controlled by, or act or purport to act for or on behalf of KOMID.
Korea Ryonbong General Corporation, also named in the annex, is the parent company of the remaining six Pyongyang-based entities designated today. These entities include Korea Complex Equipment Import Corporation, Korea International Chemical Joint Venture Company, Korea Kwangsong Trading Corporation, Korea Pugang Trading Corporation, Korea Ryongwang Trading Corporation, and Korea Ryonha Machinery Joint Venture Corporation.
As subsidiaries of KOMID and Korea Ryonbong General Corporation, many of these entities have engaged in proliferation-related transactions.
Identifying Information
HESONG TRADING CORPORATION Pyongyang, North Korea
KOREA COMPLEX EQUIPMENT IMPORT CORPORATION Rakwon-dong, Pothonggang District, Pyongyang, North Korea
KOREA INTERNATIONAL CHEMICAL JOINT VENTURE COMPANY AKA: CHOSON INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS JOINT OPERATION COMPANY AKA: CHOSUN INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS JOINT OPERATION COMPANY AKA: INTERNATIONAL CHEMICAL JOINT VENTURE CORPORATION Hamhung, South Hamgyong Province, North Korea Man gyongdae-kuyok, Pyongyang, North Korea Mangyungdae-gu, Pyongyang, North Korea
KOREA KWANGSONG TRADING CORPORATION Rakwon-dong, Pothonggang District, Pyongyang, North Korea
KOREA PUGANG TRADING CORPORATION Rakwon-dong, Pothonggang District, Pyongyang, North Korea
KOREA RYONGWANG TRADING CORPORATION AKA: KOREA RYENGWANG TRADING CORPORATION Rakwon-dong, Pothonggang District, Pyongyang, North Korea
KOREA RYONHA MACHINERY JOINT VENTURE CORPORATION AKA: CHOSUN YUNHA MACHINERY JOINT OPERATION COMPANY AKA: KOREA RYENHA MACHINERY J/V CORPORATION AKA: RYONHA MACHINERY JOINT VENTURE CORPORATION Central District, Pyongyang, North Korea Mangungdae-gu, Pyongyang, North Korea Mangyongdae District, Pyongyang, North Korea
TOSONG TECHNOLOGY TRADING CORPORATION Pyongyang, North Korea
Recognizing the need for additional tools to combat the proliferation of WMD, President Bush signed Executive Order 13382 authorizing the imposition of strong financial sanctions against not only WMD proliferators, but also entities and individuals providing support or services to proliferators.
The designations announced today are part of the ongoing interagency effort by the United States Government to combat WMD trafficking by blocking the property of entities and individuals that engage in proliferation activities and their support networks.
This Department of Treasury press release may be viewed at: http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/js2984.htm
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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