Trump: New Sanctions on North Korea ‘Heaviest Ever’

What’s the story?

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the U.S. Treasury Department is imposing new sanctions on North Korea targeting its shipping and trading companies.

"We have imposed the heaviest sanctions ever imposed," Trump said at the conclusion of his speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference or CPAC. “Hopefully, something positive can happen. We will see."

Why does it matter?

The new sanctions target one person, 27 companies, and 28 ships. As Reuters explained, "The actions block assets held by the firms in the United States and prohibit U.S. citizens from dealing with them."

The Treasury stated that Pyongyang "continues to deploy deceptive practices with respect to shipping to evade sanctions," including falsifying and concealing information displayed on North Korean vessels and conducting ship-to-ship transfers, which the United Nations prohibits.

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said the U.S. is "aggressively targeting all illicit avenues used by North Korea to evade sanctions, including taking decisive action to block vessels, shipping companies, and entities across the globe that work on North Korea's behalf."

Mnuchin added:

"The president has made it clear to companies worldwide that if they choose to help fund North Korea's nuclear ambitions, they will not do business with the United States."

What do you think?

Are additional sanctions against North Korea the way to go? Should Trump return to his "fire and fury" threats? Should the U.S. pressure other countries to impose additional sanctions on the regime? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

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—Josh Herman

Related Reading

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• Trump Designates North Korea State Sponsor of Terrorism, Imposes New Sanctions

(Photo courtesy Treasury Department)