EU imposes comprehensive sanctions on Russia-North Korea military cooperation, US joins forces, Russia says it is being pushed to the "red line"

On December 16, the US and the European Union (EU) imposed sanctions on Russia and North Korea, in the context of the two countries increasing military cooperation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and North Korean President Kim Jong Un attend a state banquet in Pyongyang on June 19. (Source: Reuters)

This is the first time the EU has imposed comprehensive sanctions related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, AFP news agency reported.

Specifically, in the 15th package of sanctions, the EU blacklisted four Chinese companies for "providing sensitive drone and microelectronic components" to the Russian military. Among them is Xiamen Limbach, which is accused of supplying engines for long-range attack drones that Moscow used to attack Ukraine.

The EU also targeted North Korea in a new sanctions package, adding Defense Minister No Kwang Chol and Deputy Chief of the General Staff Kim Yong Bok to the blacklist.

In addition, the EU blacklisted about 50 oil tankers belonging to Moscow's "underground fleet", which the Kremlin used to evade Western oil sanctions.

On the US side, Reuters news agency said that new sanctions targeting North Korean banks, generals and officials as well as Russian oil shipping companies are Washington's latest move to disrupt Pyongyang's support for Moscow in the conflict in Ukraine.

North Korean banks targeted include Golden Triangle Bank and Korea Mandal Credit Bank.

The sanctioned officials include North Korean generals who the Treasury Department said were among the thousands of troops Pyongyang has deployed to Russia to support its military campaign in Ukraine.

Also on December 16, the foreign ministers of the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, the UK and the high-ranking representative of the EU issued a joint statement opposing Russia-North Korea military cooperation.

Moscow and Pyongyang have not commented on the new moves. However, on December 16, in a speech at the Ministry of Defense , Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of pushing the country to a "red line" and said Moscow was forced to respond.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/eu-trung-phat-toan-dien-vao-hop-tac-quan-su-nga-trieu-tien-my-hop-suc-nga-noi-bi-don-den-lan-ranh-do-297674.html