For the first time since taking office, U.S. President Joe Biden has extended sanctions on North Korea.
In a presidential notice, President Biden said that he will sign an executive order extending sanctions for one more year, with the current order set to expire on Saturday.
In a presidential notice to the Congress, Biden wrote that “the existence and risk of the proliferation of weapons-usable fissile material on the Korean Peninsula and the actions and policies of the Government of North Korea continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.”
Had it not been extended, the more than a decade-long order was to expire on June 26th.
The presidential notice mentions a total of six executive orders… geared toward financially and economically isolating the regime through measures such as import restrictions.
It is the first time Biden has extended sanctions against North Korea since taking office as president in January.
The action comes during U.S. Special Envoy for North Korea Sung Kim’s visit to South Korea where he’s been discussing with South Korean and Japanese officials on ways to make progress toward the complete denuclearization and establishment of lasting peace on the Korean peninsula.
Biden’s sanction extensions are being interpreted as a sign that the U.S. will not appease Pyeongyang to try to bring Kim Jong-un to the negotiating table.
