AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE,
SYDNEY: Australia on Tuesday imposed financial sanctions against a number of companies and an individual connected with North Korea's development of nuclear weapons, the government announced.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the move, which came as Japan also imposed fresh sanction on the Stalinist state, was “consistent with our strong international stand against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”
“This supports and complements similar action taken by Japan today and previous actions taken by the United States, and sends a strong message to North Korea,” Downer said in a statement.
He did not name the companies or the individual targeted by the sanctions, saying only they were “connected with involvement in financing North Korea's continuing efforts to develop its nuclear and other WMD programs.”
Australia is one of the few Western countries to have diplomatic relations with Pyongyang.
“North Korea's WMD programs threaten North Asia's security and stability, and instability in North Asia would have significant implications for international stability and commerce,” Downer said.
“North Korea misguidedly believes that development of a WMD capacity will enhance its security. This is patently untrue. We call on North Korea to recognise this, and to give up its WMD ambitions.”
