South Korea has applauded the signing of a new law by the United States imposing more sanctions on North Korea for its recent nuclear test and the launch of a space rocket considered a disguised missile launch.
The law, signed on Thursday by President Barack Obama after it was passed by the Congress last week, "demonstrates the US's strong will to respond sternly to North Korea's provocations of nuclear and missile tests", the South Korean foreign ministry said in a statement.
The ministry hopes the new law will provide "a platform for the US to take strong and effective measures" against North Korea, and applauds the swiftness with which it was approved.
The sanctions include the freezing of assets and travel bans on anyone involved in financial transactions that support North Korean arms and nuclear weapons industries or result in human rights violations or cyber attacks.
The South Korean ministry said the new law would strengthen efforts by the international community to make North Korea "pay the price" for its nuclear and missile tests.
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North Korea carried out its fourth nuclear test on January 6 and launched a satellite into space in a rocket on February 7.
While the UN Security Council is debating a new resolution against North Korea, the US and South Korea are trying to increase pressure on the communist regime with unilateral sanctions, as well as stepping up deployment of arms in the Korean peninsula and joint military drills.
