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Seoul sanctions Russian individual involved in the illegal financing of Pyongyang’s weapons

Choi Chon Gon of Russia was among the total of four entities — two individuals and two organisations — newly added to Seoul’s sanctions list against Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile development programs

Sentinel Digital Desk

SEOUL: South Korea on Wednesday imposed unilateral sanctions on a Russian individual of Korean descent involved in the illegal financing of Pyongyang’s weapons of mass destruction programs, the Foreign Ministry here said.

Choi Chon Gon of Russia was among the total of four entities — two individuals and two organisations — newly added to Seoul’s sanctions list against Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile development programs, Yonhap News Agency quoted the Ministry as saying

Choi, previously a South Korean national, founded a North Korea front company named Hanne Ulaan LCC in Mongolia for the purpose of evading international sanctions while securing funding for Pyongyang’s weapons programs.

He is also accused of having supported Pyongyang’s illegal financing by establishing Epsilon, a Russia-based trading firm, through a joint investment partnership with So Myong, head of the North’s Foreign Trade Bank branch in Vladivostok. (IANS)

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