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Switzerland sanctions North Korea, but some guests workers to stay

By Elizabeth Shim
Switzerland is taking steps to ban products from being exported to North Korea. File Photo by Alexander Becher/EPA
Switzerland is taking steps to ban products from being exported to North Korea. File Photo by Alexander Becher/EPA

Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Switzerland is imposing additional sanctions on North Korea, targeting the export of oil to the reclusive state and joint ventures.

The country where leader Kim Jong Un attended boarding school announced new unilateral sanctions this week, reflecting measures included in United Nations Security Council sanctions Resolutions 2371 and 2375, adopted in August and September, respectively, Radio Free Asia reported.

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The report confirms there are North Korean guest workers in Switzerland, a country that prides itself on neutrality.

North Koreans whose employment contracts were sealed before Sept. 11 are exempt from the new sanctions.

Any new North Korean workers entering the state are to be turned away, according to the report.

All joint ventures and "cooperation" projects are to be suspended, but they have also been granted a Jan. 9 deadline to cut ties.

Other products banned for export to North Korea include liquefied natural gas. Imports of North Korean fabrics and seafood are no longer to be allowed.

Switzerland's latest sanctions come at a time when European countries like Belgium are pledging their support to place more pressure on Pyongyang, Yonhap reported Friday.

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Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium Didier Reinders met with his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-hwa in Brussels and said the ultimate goal of sanctions and pressure is to bring North Korea toward denuclearization and to the negotiating table, Reinders said.

The European Union recently adopted its toughest sanctions yet against Pyongyang.

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