The US announced sanctions on 8 North Korean and Russian individuals and entities for supporting North Korea’s ballistic missile programs, imposing the punishments after a pair of new missile tests by North Korea in the last week.

“Today’s actions, part of the US’ ongoing efforts to counter (North Korea’s) weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, target its continued use of overseas representatives to illegally procure goods for weapons”, - Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson said in a statement.

North Korea’s “latest missile launches are further evidence that it continues to advance prohibited programs despite the international community’s calls for diplomacy and denuclearization”, - he added.