U.S. imposes sanctions on Myanmar entities over arms trade with DPRK

The U.S. government on Tuesday slapped sanctions on three companies and one person in Myanmar in its latest effort to choke off alleged arms trade between the Southeast Asian nation and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The Department of Treasury blacklisted Asia Metal Company Ltd., Soe Min Htike Co. Ltd., Excellence Mineral Manufacturing Co. Ltd. as well as Lt. Colonel Kyaw Nyunt Oo, a military staff officer working with Myanmar's Directorate of Defense Industries (DDI), a military entity on Washington's sanctions blacklist since July 2012.

The move entails sanctions that bar American citizens from doing business with those targeted and freeze all of their assets under U.S. jurisdiction.

"These actions continue Treasury's efforts to target those linked to DDI, which has been involved in purchasing military equipment and related materiel from North Korea," the Treasury said in a statement.

The Treasury said the move does not target the Myanmar government, as it has agreed to follow through a UN Security Council resolution banning the purchase of military goods from the DPRK.

The department added Lt. General Thein Htay, the chief of DDI, to its black list in July for his involvement in arms dealing with Pyongyang.

Washington has eased sanctions on Myanmar and sent back an ambassador in response to the reforms undertaken in the Asian nation in the past few years.