The Council of the European Union on 12 October imposed sanctions against three individuals and four organizations for supporting North Korea's weapons programs and for cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang circumventing UN restrictions. This is stated in a statement by the EU Council, reports DW. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

The restrictions cover the sending of North Korean workers to Russia, joint commercial and industrial projects, as well as trade under the "weapons for oil" scheme. The EU believes these actions violate UN Security Council resolutions, which Russia had previously voted for.

The list includes Li Song Jin, a researcher at North Korea's National Aerospace Technology Administration, who also works at the country's General Rocket Administration. According to the EU Council, he was sent to Russia as a technical specialist to support the use of North Korean missiles.

Russian developer Samolet Group and its CEO Anna Akinshina were also hit by the sanctions. According to the EU, the company involved workers from North Korea in construction projects in Vladivostok in violation of UN sanctions.

Restrictions were also imposed on Vladimir Sokolov, founder and president of the Black Horse holding. The EU Council links him to the development of commercial and industrial projects involving North Korea, including a joint investment project in Primorsky Krai.

The sanctions list also includes Black Horse's subsidiary, Golden Autumn Agroholding, as well as the shipping company Paekyangsan Shipping Co Ltd. According to the EU, its vessel Paek Yang San 1 under the North Korean flag transported petroleum products from Russia to North Korea in violation of a UN Security Council resolution.

The sanctions provide for the freezing of assets of those listed and a ban on directly or indirectly providing them with funds and economic resources. Individuals are also banned from entering the European Union.

Following the decision, the EU's own sanctions list on North Korea includes 80 individuals and 25 organizations.