In a bold move, Britain has slapped sanctions on North Korea’s defence minister and four generals after their country’s decision to send thousands of troops to fight alongside Vladimir Putin’s forces in Ukraine.
The sanctions, announced yesterday, are part of a broader effort to tighten economic pressure on both Russia and its allies. Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed that the measures target No Kwang Choi, the North Korean defence minister, and four generals, accusing them of being complicit in the deployment of 11,000 North Korean troops to fight in Putin’s illegal war. These troops, according to the Foreign Office, have been used as “cannon fodder” in the conflict.
This latest action coincides with the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the sanctions package is the largest since the early days of the war. Over 100 individuals and entities from Russia and other nations have been added to the UK’s sanctions list as part of this intensified effort to apply pressure on the Kremlin.
Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, stated that Russia’s economy was already in turmoil following three years of Western sanctions. He described the new sanctions as a significant step towards forcing Putin to not only engage in dialogue but to make real concessions.
Despite growing tensions with Washington over the future of the war, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pressed ahead with the sanctions, urging further measures, including tightening the cap on Russian oil prices and targeting banks enabling sanctions evasion.
The sanctions package also targets Moscow’s military supply chain, introducing restrictions on 40 more ships in Russia’s “shadow fleet,” which allegedly helps Putin circumvent sanctions on Russian oil. In addition, several Russian oligarchs, including Roman Trotsenko, will face asset freezes and travel bans.
The new measures also extend to producers and suppliers of machine tools, electronics, and dual-use goods from countries like Turkey, India, China, and Central Asia, all of which play a role in supplying Russia’s military.
David Lammy reiterated the UK’s commitment to Ukraine, stating, “Every military supply line disrupted, every rouble blocked, and every enabler of Putin’s aggression exposed is a step towards a just and lasting peace, and towards security and prosperity in the UK as part of this government’s Plan for Change.”
The message is clear: lasting peace in Ukraine can only be achieved through strength, and the UK is committed to ensuring that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position.
