Seoul announces sanctions on North

Seoul: South Korea said  it is imposing unilateral sanctions on North Korea over its recent nuclear test and rocket launch, including a ban on financial dealings with 40 individuals and 30 entities, reports AP. The announcement came a day after North Korea warned of pre-emptive nuclear strikes in response to the start of US-South Korean military drills it views as a rehearsal for invasion. This year’s annual drills, set to run until late April, are the largest ever. The South Korean sanctions target 38 individuals and 24 organisations in North Korea who Seoul says are responsible for the North’s development of weapons of mass destruction. A Singaporean, a Taiwanese and six entities in Myanmar, Thailand, Taiwan and other countries will also be sanctioned for indirectly assisting North Korea, the South Korean government said in a statement.