BRUSSELS -- The European Union has tightened its sanctions against North Korea as part of the United Nations Security Council resolution adopted last month to punish the communist state's development of weapons of mass destruction.

"The Council (of the EU) further strengthened its sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by transposing the sectoral sanctions imposed by UNSC Resolution 2375," the council said in a statement released Tuesday. 


The new measures include a ban on the sale of natural gas liquids and limitations on the sale of refined petroleum and crude oil to the DPRK, according to the council statement.

They also ban imports of North Korean textiles to the EU and prohibit EU countries from providing work authorizations for North Korean nationals, the statement also said.

"Member states will not provide new work authorizations to DPRK nationals to enter and work in their territory as they are suspected of generating revenue which is used to support the country's illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programs," the statement noted.

Currently, the 63 North Korean individuals and 53 entities blacklisted by the UN are also on the EU list of those subject to an asset freeze and travel restrictions for supporting the illicit programs, it said.

"In addition, 38 individuals and 4 entities have been designated by the EU autonomously."

While implementing all UNSC resolutions on North Korea, "the EU has imposed autonomous restrictive measures against the DPRK, complementing and reinforcing the UN sanctions regime," it also noted.

The council is presently working on possible additional autonomous EU measures, it also said. (Yonhap)