[author: Laura Anne Schierhoff]

On November 21, 2017, the U.S. Department of Treasury issued more sanctions against North Korea in an effort to intensify pressure on Kim Jong Un and his regime. These sanctions are targeted to one individual – a Chinese businessman, 13 companies, and 20 vessels that have all engaged in trade with North Korea. Treasure Secretary, Steven Mnuchin, said the latest sanctions targeted companies engaged in hundreds of millions of dollars of trade with North Korea. The Trump Administration also called on other countries around the world to put diplomatic and economic pressure on the North Korean regime. 

These sanctions came a day after President Trump declared he was placing North Korea on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. Trump stated this was a needed move, especially because North Korea has “repeatedly” sponsored acts of terrorism, including “assassinations on foreign soil.” North Korea had previously been removed from the list in 2008, by then President George W. Bush. Currently, there are only three other countries in the world with this label, including Iran, Sudan and Syria. Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson said that the move to designate North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism was largely a symbolic one. The Trump Administration has indicated there are still more sanctions and actions to come against North Korea in the coming weeks.