EU renews sanctions on N Korea over nuclear activities

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - The EU Council renewed its autonomous sanctions on North Korea in response to its nuclear weapon and ballistic missile development activities.

"The Council reviewed its autonomous list of those subject to restrictive measures under the sanctions regime against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)," the Council said in a statement late Monday.

The sanctions consisted of travel ban and asset freeze on the listed individuals and entities, it noted.

"The individuals and entities listed are under sanctions for contributing to the DPRK's nuclear-related, ballistic-missile-related or other weapons of mass destruction-related programmes or for sanctions evasion," it added.

The EU first introduced restrictive measures against North Korea in December 2006.

According to the statement, a total of 57 people is subject to the EU sanctions.

In addition, the EU has frozen the assets of nine entities as part of its own sanctions regime.