The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned eight North Korean agents for their work facilitating sanctions evasion – six of them based in third countries – in an action the agency said comes in response to a recent military reconnaissance satellite launch by North Korea. The North Korean agents, including Russia-based Un Hyok Choe and Myong So, China-based Myong Chol Jang and Phyong Guk Kang, and Iran-based Kyong Il Kang and Sung Il Ri, engage in revenue generation and missile-related technology procurement in support of North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction program, OFAC said.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned virtual currency mixer Sinbad.io, which is used as a “key money-laundering tool” by Lazarus Group, a sanctioned North Korean cyber-hacking entity. OFAC said Sinbad has processed millions of dollars’ worth of virtual currency from Lazarus Group “heists” and is used by cybercriminals to “obfuscate transactions linked to malign activities such as sanctions evasion, drug trafficking, the purchase of child sexual abuse materials, and additional illicit sales on darknet marketplaces.”
The U.S. sanctioned more than 20 people and companies this week for helping to finance Iranian military groups, including by helping the Iranian government sell oil and other commodities to overseas buyers. The Office of Foreign Assets Control said these sales help Iran generate billions of dollars for its Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, its Iranian Armed Forces General Staff and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force.
A senior sanctions official with the Treasury Department is in Oman and Turkey this week to discuss sanctions against Hamas and Russia, the agency announced Nov. 27. Brian Nelson, Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, is speaking with the countries about ways they can help prevent Hamas and other terrorist groups from raising and moving funds, facilitate humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, and prevent and investigate trade that benefits Russia. Nelson’s trip comes after the multiple rounds of U.S. sanctions against Hamas and its financiers since the group’s terror attacks against Israel in October (see 2311140008, 2310270012 and 2310180003).
The U.K.’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation this week amended an existing entry under its Iran sanctions regime. The move updated identifying information for Ya Mahdi Industries Group, which was designated for its involvement in Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
The State Department recently added two people and one entity as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. One designation applies to Akram al-Ajouri, the leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The agency also designated Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, an Iraqi Shia militia, and Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji, the militia’s leader.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week published four previously issued general licenses under its Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations. The full text of each license is available in the notice.
The State Department this week announced another package of weapons and equipment for Ukraine, including up to $100 million of arms previously authorized under directed drawdowns. The package includes missiles for air defense, ammunition, anti-tank weapons, spare parts, services, training, transportation and more.
President Joe Biden renewed a national emergency authorizing certain sanctions related to Nicaragua, the White House said last week. The situation in Nicaragua, including the "systematic dismantling and undermining of democratic institutions" as well as "indiscriminate violence" and corruption, continues to threaten U.S. national security, Biden said. The emergency for Nicaragua was renewed for one year from Nov. 27.
The U.S. this week sanctioned seven people and one entity affiliated with Iranian-aligned militia groups. The designations, announced by the Treasury and State departments, target several people connected to Iraq-based Kata’ib Hizballah and newly sanctioned Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, two militia groups that receive funding and support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force. Designated were Imad Naji al-Bahadli, Habib Hasan Mughamis Darraji, Ja’afar al-Husayni, Khalid Kadhim Jasim al-Skeni, Basim Mohammad Hasab al-Majidi, Mojtaba Jahandust and Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji.