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Japan, S. Korea expand sanctions on N. Korea over ICBM test

TOKYO, Dec 2 (KUNA) -- Japan and South Korea on Friday expanded their sanctions on North Korea in response to Pyongyang's recent test-firing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), both governments said.
Tokyo added the freezing of assets of North Korea's two trading firms, a hacking group and one individual for their involvement in North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs, the Foreign Ministry said in a press release.
According to the ministry, with the additional plan, Japan now designates a total of 121 individuals and 137 entities in its North Korea-linked sanction list.
Japan first imposed the sanctions in 2006 following the North's first nuclear test and test-launch of ballistic missiles over the Sea of Japan the same year.
Meanwhile, South Korea also announced on Friday it will impose independent sanctions on eight individuals and seven institutions involved in Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development programs, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Those added to the blacklist include officials at financial institutions related to the North's nuclear and missile programs, and those involved in illegal ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned North Korean goods, the Foreign Ministry said.
The move came after North Korea fired the Hwasong-17 ICBM toward the sea on Nov. 18, which flew about 1,000 km on a lofted trajectory and reached a maximum altitude of around 6,000 km. The Hwasong-17 is known to be capable of carrying multiple warheads with a range of around 15,000 km, enough to reach the entire US mainland. (end) mk.rk