The Department of the Treasury has issued new sanctions against foreign-based agents of North Korea, officially the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
According to the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, Green Pine is responsible for about half of the North’s arms and related materiel exports. Green Pine is controlled by the DPRK’s Reconnaissance General Bureau. It provides weapons and technical assistance to defense firms based in Iran.
The new designations are in response to the launch of a military reconnaissance satellite on Nov. 21.
“Today’s actions by the United States, Australia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea reflect our collective commitment to contesting Pyongyang’s illicit and destabilizing activities,” said Brian Nelson, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at the Treasury.
The U.S. also sanctioned Kimsuky, a cyber espionage group associated with the North.
According to the OFAC, Kimsuky uses spear-phishing to target victims working in governments, research centers, academic institutions, news media organizations and think tanks in the United States, Europe, Japan and South Korea. The cyber group gathers information related to geopolitical events, foreign policy and diplomatic efforts.