U.S. sanctions target North Korea's human rights abuses

The United States on Thursday imposed a new round of sanctions on North Korea, blacklisting individuals and organizations involved in security and forced labor policies for "ongoing and serious human rights abuses," AFP reported.

Amid the ongoing standoff over Pyongyang's threatening nuclear posture towards Japan and the United States, the U.S. Treasury sought to boost pressure by placing the financial restrictions on seven senior officials and three state units.