S. Korea to unveil its own sanctions on N. Korea this week

SEOUL, March 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Monday it will announce its own punitive steps against North Korea this week over its latest nuclear and missile tests, lending support to tougher United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions.

The government plans to unveil its sanctions against the North on Tuesday afternoon in response to North Korea's nuclear test in January and long-range locket launch last month, according to the Prime Minister's Office.

Measures under review are believed to include an entry ban on vessels that have traveled through North Korea and blacklisting more North Koreans and entities suspected of developing weapons of mass destruction.

The move comes as the UNSC on Wednesday unanimously adopted a fresh resolution to punish Pyongyang for its latest provocations.

The resolution calls for mandatory inspections of all cargo going into and out of North Korea and a ban on exports of mineral resources, a major source of hard currency for the cash-strapped country.

Last month, Seoul carried out its toughest non-military sanction by shutting down a joint industrial complex in the North's border city of Kaesong. The move was aimed at preventing money generated from the factory zone from being funneled into the North's nuke and missile programs.

sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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