US sanctions North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un for human rights abuses

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on 6 July 2016 designated top officials of the North Korean regime along with Kim Jong-Un and for their ties to North Korea’s notorious abuses of human rights. This is the first time that US has sanctioned North Korean leader over human rights abuses. The designated ones include ten other individuals, and five

entities.They were sanctioned under the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016 on the basis of its findings in its report on Serious Human Rights Abuses or Censorship in North Korea.

OFAC has previously designated four individuals and three entities also highlighted in the State Department report. 

The measures freeze any property the individuals have in the US and prevent US citizens doing business with them. North Korea is already under an extensive sanctions regime for its nuclear activities, but analysts see the latest move as an escalation of US efforts to isolate the nation.