US Hits Chinese and Russian Firms Over Breach of North Korea Sanctions

Treasury Secretary Mnuchin speaks about the U.S. administration's North Korea sanctions in the Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 23, 2018. Olivier Douliery/AFP/Getty Images

WASHINGTON—The United States imposed sanctions on a Russian port service agency and Chinese firms on Aug. 15 for aiding North Korean ships and selling alcohol and tobacco to North Korea, in breach of U.S. sanctions aimed at pressuring it to end its nuclear programs.

The U.S. Treasury said in a statement that the China-based Dalian Sun Moon Star International Logistics Trading and its Singapore-based affiliate SINSMS Pte. have netted more than $1 billion a year by illegally facilitating the export of alcohol and cigarette products to North Korea.