S. Korea slaps sanctions on NK foreign intelligence chief

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (left) and his daughter Ju-ae (second from left) inspect the launch of a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile on Dec. 18 in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the following day. (Yonhap)

The South Korean government on Wednesday imposed sanctions on the head of North Korea's primary intelligence agency responsible for overseas operations, along with seven other North Koreans.

The announcement on unilateral economic sanctions was in response to North Korea's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on Dec. 18, contravening multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, according to South Korea's Foreign Ministry.

A total of eight designated North Korean individuals were involved in generating illicit revenue for the North Korean regime and funding nuclear and missile development prohibited by the UNSC resolutions, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry announced.

The North Koreans were involved in activities such as illegally acquiring foreign currency through cyber operations and technological theft, as well as trading in sanctioned goods, including weapons.

Ri Chang-ho, serving as the head of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea's principal foreign intelligence agency, was a central figure on the sanction list.

The RGB operates behind North Korea's hacking organizations, including Kimsuky, Lazarus, and Andariel, which engage in illegal cyber activities to earn foreign currency and commit technological theft.

North Korea's hacking groups are subordinate to the RGB’s Cyber Warfare Guidance Unit -- better known as Bureau 121 -- according to a 2020 report by the US Department of the Army called "North Korean Tactics."

Yun Chol, a former North Korean diplomat stationed in China, was involved in the trade of lithium-6, a fundamental thermonuclear material for nuclear weapons that is sanctioned by the UN.

Additionally, Park Young-han engaged in arms-related transactions on behalf of North Korea's weapons export company, the Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation, or KOMID.

Ryang Su-nyo, Kim Sung-su, Pae Won-chul, Ri Sin-song and Kim Pyong-chol were involved in the trade of North Korean weapons and related items. Their affiliated company is Pan Systems Pyongyang, which was sanctioned by the South Korean government in March 2016 for handling transactions for North Korea's weapons and related goods under the control of the RGB.

"Our government has consistently emphasized that there will be consequences for North Korea's provocations," the Foreign Ministry said.

"We will continue to closely coordinate with the international community, including the United States and Japan, to encourage North Korea to realize this reality, cease provocations, and engage in dialogue for denuclearization."

The imposition of unilateral sanctions signifies the 14th action taken against North Korea under the Yoon Suk Yeol government, with 12 issued this year alone.

The latest measure has elevated the tally of individuals and entities subject to unilateral sanctions by the South Korean government against North Korea to 83 individuals and 53 entities since October 2022.

The Yoon government has consistently imposed unilateral sanctions against North Korea, given the UN Security Council's inability to coordinate actions, largely attributed to resistance from veto-wielding China and Russia.

The deadlock persists despite North Korea's ongoing ballistic missile launches, a direct violation of the UNSC resolutions supported by China and Russia. Pyongyang has conducted five ICBM launches, more than 25 other ballistic missile tests, and three satellite launches utilizing ballistic missile technology this year.

By Ji Da-gyum(dagyumji@heraldcorp.com)