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EU Expands Sanctions on North Korea and Russian Firms Over Growing Military and Economic Ties
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The European Union has imposed new sanctions on three individuals and four entities over their support for North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, as well as their cooperation with Russia.
Following this decision, the EU sanctions list regarding North Korea now includes 80 individuals and 25 entities.
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Among those targeted is Ri Song Jin, a researcher at North Korea’s National Aerospace Technology Administration and an official of the country’s General Missile Administration. He worked in Russia as a technical specialist, training Russian forces in the use of North Korean missiles.
Sanctions were also directed at the Russian development company Samolet Group and its chief executive officer, Anna Akishina. The company brought in workers from North Korea for construction projects in Vladivostok, violating UN sanctions.
The list includes Vladimir Sokolov, the founder of the Russian holding company Black Horse. He is accused of facilitating trade and industrial cooperation with North Korea, including a joint investment project in the Primorsky Krai region.
The targeted entities include the shipping company Paekyangsan Shipping, whose vessel transported oil products from Russia to North Korea in violation of UN restrictions, and Golden Autumn Agroholding, a subsidiary of Black Horse.
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The sanctions mandate an entry ban into the EU and a freeze on assets. The listed individuals and entities are also prohibited from receiving funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly.
The Council of the EU expressed concern over the deepening military and economic ties between Russia and North Korea, citing the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia, employment of North Korean citizens, joint business initiatives, and weapon exchanges for oil.
While the EU introduced new sanctions against North Korean and Russian individuals for illegal cooperation, Estonia simultaneously requested the removal of a Russian rare-earth supplier from the same sanctions package to protect key European industries.
Kerstin Lepik, spokesperson for Estonia’s permanent representation in Brussels, confirmed the decision to ERR. She stated that Estonia had asked for one Russian company and a related individual to be removed from the sanctions list approved by the ambassadors of the COREPER II member states.
Lepik explained that the company supplied materials to Estonia-based NPM Silmet that were considered strategically important for Europe. Industries dependent on NPM Silmet included electric vehicle manufacturing, wind turbines, electronics, automotive production, and aviation across the EU.
She added that NPM Silmet was actively seeking alternative sources for materials imported from Russia, and Estonia planned to reconsider adding the Russian company and the associated individual to the sanctions list the following year.
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