The U.S. has extended its unilteral sanctions on North Korea for one more year, noting that the regime and its nuclear weapons pose a serious threat.
This comes amid growing expectations that the U.S. and North Korea could resume their dialogue... following the Kim-Xi summit.
Lee Min-sun reports.
U.S. President Donald Trump extended an existing sanction on North Korea for another year on Friday.
In a routine notice sent to Congress, Trump cited North Korea and its nuclear weapons as an "unusual and extraordinary" threat to U.S. national security and the economy.
He also wrote that the existence and risk of proliferation of weapons-usable fissile material on the Korean Peninsula... and the actions and policies of the North Korean regime... are a concern for the U.S. and its allies.
A U.S. executive order for sanctions on North Korea was first signed in June 2008, and has been extended annually under the previous Obama and the current Trump administrations.
While the extension is a routine, it comes at a sensitive time. with North Korea and China just having wrapped up their summit. while Pyeongyang and Washington are looking to resume talks. that have been stuck in limbo since the Hanoi summit.
Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to North Koreaz has led to speculation that Beijing is looking to mediate a new round of negotiations between the North and the United States.
Lee Min-sun Arirang News.