Donald Trump announces new sanctions on North Korea

The announcement came as the Chinese central bank told banks to strictly implement United Nations sanctions against Pyongyang 

US president Donald Trump has authorised fresh sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear weapons programme and has authorised the US treasury department to target specific companies and institutions conducting business with Pyongyang.

Moreover, Trump said that China’s Central Bank had also instructed Chinese banks to put the brakes on any business with the rogue state, just two weeks after the United Nations approved a fresh round of sanctions against the North, amind US concerns that Beijing wasn't being tough enough. 

The sanctions are not expected to further target oil, a senior Trump administration official told Reuters this evening.

Trump made the announcement during a working lunch with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

“I am announcing a new executive order to sign that significantly expands authorities to target individuals, companies, financial institutions that finance and facilitate trade with North Korea,” said Trump.

Earlier this week, during his first speech at the United Nations, Trump spoke of the threat to world peace posed by rouge states. He singled out North Korea, insisting its leader ‘rocket man’ was on a suicide mission and that if force, the US would “destroy” North Korea.