Brussels: Europe and the Arabs - agencies
The United States announced the expansion of its sanctions against North Korea as part of its commitment to confront (Pyongyang's) efforts to generate revenues for its illegal weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. In conjunction with this, according to media reports, Washington is seeking support from its allies to impose sanctions against China

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said - in a statement published by the US State Department on its website today, Thursday - that the United States is taking action against three entities and two individuals; For their involvement in generating revenue to finance illegal weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes.

Blinken explained that the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions included (Chelsong) Trading Company and (Korea Paico) Trading Company, pursuant to Executive Order No. 13687; For being agencies, tools or entities under the control of the North Korean government.

He added that the Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on "Hwang Gil Soo" and "Pak Hwa Song" in accordance with Executive Order No. 13810 .. saying: "All these entities and individuals generate revenues that North Korea uses to finance its weapons programs."

The US Secretary of State concluded the statement, saying: "These measures are more consistent with the sanctions of our international partners, citing the previous EU sanctions on Chilsong, Paeko, Pak and Hwang for their involvement in evading sanctions and being held responsible for supporting North Korea's illegal nuclear and missile programs."
  On the other hand, Reuters reported, quoting US officials and other informed sources, that Washington is trying to mobilize the support of its closest allies to impose sanctions against China, in the event that Beijing provides military support to Russia.

According to the agency, these consultations are still "in a preliminary stage," and their aim is to mobilize the support of a number of countries, "especially the G7 countries," to coordinate potential restrictions against China.

The agency's sources did not specify what kind of restrictions could be imposed on China. She added that Washington's initiative had not yet resulted in a broad agreement on any specific measures.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken warned Beijing of the consequences of supplying weapons to Moscow.

A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Wenbin, confirmed that the United States, not China, is the one who continuously supplies weapons and fuels the Ukrainian crisis, stressing that Washington should stop spreading disinformation and hold others responsible.

And the Russian presidential spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said in response to a question about alleged plans to help China to Russia, that Beijing strongly denied this and there is nothing to add to what was said before.