U.S. Imposes Sanctions On Two North Korean Shipping Companies

U.S. Blacklists North Korea Shipping Firms Over Arms Shipments -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday blacklisted two North Korean shipping firms that it said tried to conceal arms shipments from Cuba to North Korea, following a similar move by the United Nations.

The ship, Chong Chon Gang, was discovered last July near the Panama Canal hiding a large amount of arms, including two MiG-21 jet fighters under 200,000 bags of sugar, which the United States said showed a clear attempt to circumvent U.N. and U.S. sanctions against North Korea.

North Korea is under an array of sanctions for nuclear and ballistic missile tests since 2006 in defiance of global demands to stop.

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More News On The U.S. Imposing Sanctions On Two North Korean Shipping Companies

US Slaps Sanctions on 2 North Korean Shipping Companies -- Defense News/AFP
US puts sanctions on North Korea shipping companies -- Radio Australia
North Korean Firms Involved in Arms Shipment Targeted -- WSJ
U.S. sanctions N. Korea firms over arms transfer from Cuba -- Global Post/Kyodo
US slaps sanctions on two North Korean shipping firms -- Korea Times

My Comment: These sanctions would have an even greater bite if other countries were involved .... unfortunately .... aside from respecting UN sanctions no one else is jumping on this band-wagon.

What Russian Sanctions?

U.S. Sales To Russia Have Only Risen Since Sanctions Imposed -- McClatchy News

WASHINGTON — In the months since the United States imposed sanctions on Russian businesses and close associates of President Vladimir Putin’s, an odd thing has happened: U.S. exports to Russia have risen.

U.S. Census Bureau foreign trade data show that exports rose 17 percent from March through May _ the most recent months for which the data is available _ compared with the previous three months, before sanctions were imposed. The value of exports has risen in each consecutive month this year, an unusual trend in a trade relationship that historically fluctuates on a monthly basis.

Russian markets account for less than 1 percent of U.S. exports, but what the U.S. sells to Russia is largely high-tech and expensive goods, including technology and equipment for the energy sector, which faces the threat of targeted sanctions.

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My Comment: Do what we say .... not what we do.

The EU And The U.S. Preparing To Impose More Russian Sanctions

Beware Russia: Expect More Sanctions From The West -- Fortune

Critics may think the U.S. and Europe haven’t been aggressive enough with Russia, but a closer look suggests more sanctions are under way.

The tragic downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 accelerates pressure on the West to put full “sectoral” sanctions in place targeting entire industries across Russia. The economic disruption could be profound, but the West—backed by a larger, stronger economies and central banks flush with liquidity liquidity—is far more resilient than Russia for what is to come.

It is easy to criticize the West’s most recent sanctions as incremental and timid. The European Union last week added 33 individuals and entities to their sanctions list, including senior Russian security service officials and oligarchs. France continues to insist it will provide warships to Russia, and economic interests seem to be blocking tough action. Even the most recent sanctions by the United States only moved to block new debt and equity issuance by a number of energy, financial and military companies. What’s more, U.S. sanctions exclude Sberbank, which holds the majority of Russian deposits.

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More News On The EU And The U.S. Preparing More Sanctions Against Russia

White House: EU, US to impose new Russia sanctions -- AP
EU Prepares to Add Five Individuals, Two Entities to Ukraine Sanctions List -- WSJ
UK says EU agreement on Russia sanctions 'closer' -- BBC
Russia could face tough banking sanctions 'within days' -- The Telegraph
Obama, European Leaders Confer on Ukraine -- WSJ
Russia, Germany up diplomatic battle over Ukraine sanctions -- Reuters
Germany Favors Sectoral Sanctions Against Moscow -- RIA Novosti
EU Council will discuss economic sanctions on Russia July 29 -- ITAR-TASS
White House: US, Europe to issue new sanctions on Russia this week -- GMA/Reuters
Japan Says Will Release Sanction List of Russian Citizens and Companies Soon -- RIA Novosti

Calls Grow To Impound Russian Billionaires' Luxury Super Yachts To Punish Putin

Billion-pound palace: Roman Abramovich's Eclipse, pictured, is worth as much as £1billion. Super-rich Russians such as Abramovich could be caught up in rounds of sanctions directed against Russia

Yacht's The Way To Send The Oligarchs A Message: Calls Grow To Impound Russian Billionaires' Luxury Boats In Protest At Shooting Down Of MH17 -- Daily Mail

* Billionaires with links to Putin's Russia flaunt wealth with huge superyachts
* Russian regime currently in international firing line over MH17 jet attack
* Flight, with 298 on board, was shot out of the sky last week
* Western powers are considering sanctions of Russia's centres of power
* Foreign policy experts suggest 'symbolic' sanctions against super-wealthy could influence Putin

The luxury superyachts of billionaire oligarchs could be seized as part of a squeeze on Vladimir Putin's Russia as international outrage builds over the attack on passenger jet MH17.

Foreign policy experts raised the prospect of levying sanctions on the super-rich allies of the Russian president as a way of punishing the country over its links to attack on the passenger jet.

Dozens of wealthy businessmen with links to Putin's government are based outside the country, as are their prized yachts, some of which are worth as much as £1billion.

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My Comment:  Conducting such seizures will make the news .... but I doubt that it will have an impact on Russian foreign policy .... and I am sure that it will be deemed illegal in any international court.