UN Security Council Imposes Sanctions on North Korean Firms

Posted May 2nd, 2012 at 2:25 pm (UTC-5)
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The United Nations is penalizing three North Korean companies involved in the country's missile and nuclear programs.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, says the Security Council sanctions include freezing the assets of the three “very significant” entities. She said the Security Council views the sanctions as “strong and credible.”

North Korea launched a long-range missile last month, despite calls by many in the international community not to do so. The missile malfunctioned and fell into the Yellow Sea about a minute after liftoff.

At the time, all 15 Security Council members condemned the failed launch, and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called North Korea's actions “deplorable.”

North Korea said the launch was aimed at placing a weather satellite into orbit. But the operation was widely believed to be a test of a long-range ballistic missile that could carry warheads as easily as satellites.