S.Korean Sanctions Target N.Korean Satellite Ambitions

South Korea on Tuesday published a list of 77 sanctioned goods linked to North Korea's ballistic missile and satellite development programs.

This is the fifth round of sanctions slapped on the North by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration since its inauguration, and for the first time it also targets Pyongyang's satellite development.

The move blocks exports to the North of items that could be used in spy satellites such as GPS devices, antennae, solar panels and control moment gyro actuators.

In 2021, North Korea set out military satellite development as a key task for the five-year defense plan and pledged to finish preparations by April this year.

"Most of the goods have dual purposes for both satellites and long-range ballistic missiles," a ministry official said. "We expect that this ban will be effective in curbing Pyongyang's development of satellites and ballistic missiles once international controls bite."

The North cannot import such components directly from South Korea anyway, but now Seoul can ask allies such as the U.S. and Japan to ban exports of the blacklisted goods and initiate sanctions of their own.