US imposes new sanctions on DPRK

The US Department of Treasury has issued new sanctions on entities and individuals, allegedly related to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The Treasury said in a statement that it slapped sanctions on nine entities, 16 individuals and six vessels in response to the DPRK's alleged "ongoing development of weapons of mass destruction and continued violations of United Nations Security Council Resolutions".

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been high over the past year, as the crisis has been worsened by the exchange of personal insults and confrontational rhetoric between the leaders of the United States and the DPRK.

The US administration, under President Donald Trump, has been sticking to a strategy of "maximum pressure" on the DPRK to force it to abandon its weapons programs, but so far has failed to achieve its goals.

As a result of the Treasury's action, any property or interests of the designated persons in the US will be blocked and transactions by US citizens involving these persons are generally prohibited.

Beijing reiterated on Thursday its opposition to long-arm jurisdiction over Chinese entities and individuals by any countries according to their domestic law.

China has always been implementing the UN Security Council's resolutions over Pyongyang fully and strictly, and its efforts are obvious to all, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.