The U.S. Treasury Department has announced new sanctions targeting a Russian financial firm for helping North Korea to channel funds into its nuclear weapons program.<br />The move is seen as a warning against Beijing,... as it came right on the eve of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea.<br />Kim Hyo-sun reports.<br />Washington has imposed fresh sanctions on a Russian financial company for allegedly helping Pyeongyang evade sanctions.<br />The U.S. Treasury Department said Wednesday that its sanctions target Russian Financial Society,... which has provided financial services to Dandong Zhongsheng Industry and Trade,... a North Korea-controlled entity based in China.<br />It also accused the Russian company of opening multiple bank accounts for a representative of Korea Zinc Industrial Group,... which had already been designated under Washington's sanctions program.<br />The statement explained that Russian Financial Society has helped the North channel funds to the regime's nuclear weapons program.<br />The new sanctions freeze all of the Russian financial firm's U.S.-based property.<br />The latest move comes just three months after Washington announced North Korea-related sanctions targeting two Chinese shipping firms.<br />But, U.S. President Donald Trump sparked confusion by tweeting a day later that additional sanctions were not necessary.<br />The announcement of the new sanctions comes on the eve of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea is also interpreted as a warning message to Beijing.<br />Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.<br />
