EU Further Tightens Sanctions on North Korea

The European Union on Friday further tightened sanctions against North Korea over nuclear and ballistic missile tests carried out in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The 28-nation bloc said it adopted new restrictions in the trade, financial, investment and transport sectors in order to complement U.N. resolutions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the north's official name.

"The EU decided to further expand its restrictive measures targeting the DPRK's nuclear, weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs," according to a statement from the European Council, which groups EU member states.

It cited the "grave threat to international peace and security in the region and beyond" that North Korean actions pose.

Under the new measures, the EU bans imports of petroleum products and luxury goods from North Korea as well as the sale or transfer to the regime of any civilian material or equipment that can also be used for military purposes.

It also prohibits any financial support for trade with the regime as well as any North Korean investment in the European bloc.

EU nationals and entities are barred from investing in the mining, refining and chemical industries sectors as well as in any entities working on illegal programs.

The bloc also bans any North Korean aircraft from landing in or taking off from EU territory or even flying over it. And it prohibits any vessel owned, operated or crewed by North Korea from entering EU ports.

Last week the bloc added 18 persons and one entity to its asset freeze and travel ban blacklist, meaning sanctions are now in place against 66 individuals and 42 entities in North Korea.

In March, the U.N. Security Council imposed the toughest sanctions yet against Pyongyang, including unprecedented inspections of all cargo to and from the notoriously reclusive country which has locked itself away from the rest of the world for the past 60 years.

The U.N. sanctions also banned or restricted exports of coal, iron and iron ore and other minerals, along with the supply of aviation fuel as part of efforts to get Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear and missile ambitions.

The EU established diplomatic relations with North Korea in 2001 but contacts are minimal. It adopted its first sanctions in 2006.