Obama extends N. Korea sanctions for 1 year

U.S. President Barack Obama has extended his country’s economic sanctions on North Korea for another year as North Korea launched its Musudan missiles on Wednesday.

In a notification to U.S. Congress, Obama said North Korea continues to “constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States” and that the North Korea’s designation as a “national emergency” will continue for another year.

He cited the existence and risk of North Korea’s proliferation of weapons-grade fissile materials and its nuclear and missile programs as well as Pyongyang’s provocative acts and policies threatening the U.S. troops and allies.

Obama has been extending the executive orders, issued by his predecessor, George W. Bush, in June 2008, that designated the North as a “national emergency” since June 2009.

Meanwhile, North Korea launched two Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday. The South Korean military said that one of them exploded in the air, while the other was successfully launched. Seoul’s military is watching the North’s moves closely, viewing that Pyongyang made some progress in advancing the Musudan missiles’ functions and technology through the latest launch following five botched tests since mid-April.

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