The United States has imposed new sanctions against seven North Korean military and government officials and three entities over human rights violations in the country, the U.S. Treasury said in an update on Thursday.
The announcement came as the U.S. Department of State issued its third report “on DPRK human rights abuses and censorship.”
“Human rights abuses by DPRK regime remain among the worst in the world, including those involving extrajudicial killings, forced labor, torture, prolonged arbitrary detention, as well as rape, forced abortions, and other sexual violence inside the country,” the State Department said in a release.
“Many of the country’s human rights abuses underwrite the regime’s weapon’s program, including forced labor in the form of mass mobilizations, reeducation through labor camps, and overseas labor contracts,” it added.
The newly sanctioned individuals include Commander of the Military Security Command Jo Kyong-Chol, Deputy Director of the Military Security Command Sin Yong Il, Minister of Labor Jong Yong Su, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of People’s Security Ri Thae Chol, Director of the External Construction Bureau Kim Kang Jin, North Korean Consul General in the Chinese city of Shenyang Ku Sung Sub, and Second Secretary at the North Korean Embassy in Vietnam Kim Min Chol.
U.S. authorities also imposed sanctions on the North Korean Military Security Command, External Construction Bureau, and Cholhyun Construction.