EU expands sanctions against North Korea

The European Council on Thursday expanded its sanctions against North Korea including prohibition on investments in the country following its recent missile tests.

"The EU decided to expand the prohibition on investments in the DPRK [North Korea] to new sectors, namely the conventional arms-related industry, metallurgy and metalworking and aerospace," Anadolu news agency quoted a council statement as saying.

It also agreed "to prohibit the provision of certain services to persons or entities in the DPRK, namely computer services and services linked to mining and manufacturing in the chemical, mining and refining industry".

Thursday's measures build on a series of sanctions implemented by the EU in February this year.

North Korea has been accused of violating the UN Security Council resolutions and of creating a "grave threat to international peace and security in the region and beyond".

Four people were also added to a list of persons targeted by the EU measures "for being responsible for supporting or promoting the DPRK's nuclear-related, ballistic missile-related or other weapons of mass destruction-related programmes".

This brings the total number of people subject to travel restrictions and asset freezes to 41, according to the European Council.

North Korea test-fired a medium-range ballistic missile yesterday from its eastern port of Sinpo into the Sea of Japan.

The launch comes on the eve of a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the United States to meet President Donald Trump.

It is the latest in a series of tests which the North has been conducting in pursuit of its goal of developing a nuclear missile.

Earlier in February, North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the sea a day after Trump held a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the US.