Donald Trump's White House announced new sanctions against North Korea last month that look to stay in place, even after recent news of planned talks between Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong-Un. Touted by Trump as the "largest ever" package of such measures taken against the country, the newly imposed sanctions are aimed at restricting North Korea's ability to conduct maritime business and evade international sanctions. The U.S. president announced the latest sanctions on North Korea at this year's Conservative Political Action Convention (CPAC), highlighting the goal of "[cutting] off sources of revenue and fuel that the [North Korean] regime uses to fund its nuclear program and sustain its military."
The new sanctions target 28 vessels, 27 shipping and trade companies, and one individual. The sanctioned entities are from a number of countries, including, among others, North Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tanzania, and Panama. In spite of their known involvement in aiding illicit shipping activities by North Korea, no Russian businesses, vessels, or individuals were named in this latest round of sanctions.
The sanctions will remain in place in spite of the latest news that Trump has agreed to a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un - though it's unclear whether that meeting is actually going to happen. On Thursday, following a meeting with Donald Trump and members of his administration, South Korean national security adviser Chung Eui-Yong announced that the president had agreed to meet with Kim Jong-Un. Chung is part of a South Korean delegation to Washington D.C. that is tasked with debriefing US officials on South Korea's most recent talks with the North.
Diplomatic relations are improving between North Korea and South Korea, with a recent round of talks between the two nations, which saw Kim Jong-Un meet with South Korean officials for the first time since he came into power in 2011. In a recent détente capped by a joint demonstration of goodwill by the two Koreas at the Pyeongchang Olympics, tensions appear to be cooling between North Korea and its southern neighbor.
In its warmer position towards North Korea, South Korean diplomats are serving as important go-betweens for Kim Jong-Un to the Unite States. South Korean officials have reported that Kim Jong-Un stated that he is willing to open negotiations with the United States once more over ending North Korea's nuclear weapons' development. They have also reported that Kim has agreed to halt North Korea's missile programs for the duration of any talks.
In spite of this latest development, Trump has also once more emphasized his commitment to the newly placed sanctions against North Korea. Tweeting on Thursday, Trump reiterated his position, saying, "Great progress being made but sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached. Meeting being planned!"