Seoul sees new U.S. sanctions on N.K. as part of ongoing effort to peacefully settle nuke standoff

SEOUL, Feb. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Saturday that the latest package of U.S. unilateral sanctions on North Korea reaffirmed Washington's ongoing aim to peacefully and diplomatically resolve the long-running nuclear standoff with Pyongyang.

On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the "heaviest ever" sanctions on the North, targeting 27 shipping and trade companies, 28 vessels and one individual suspected of helping North Korea evade existing sanctions.

The sanctions block the designated entities' property and interests within the U.S. or in U.S. nationals' control while also banning transactions between the sides.

"(The sanctions) were a reaffirmation of the U.S. side's will to move towards a peaceful, diplomatic resolution to the North Korean nuclear issue," an official at Seoul's foreign ministry said, declining to be named.

"We evaluate them as part of efforts to set the North onto a path towards denuclearization through strong sanctions and pressure," he added.

The official also voiced hopes that the sanctions will help enhance the international community's determination to enforce U.N. sanctions resolutions that have been rolled out in response to the North's past nuclear and missile tests.

"South Korea and the United States will continue cooperation and consultations at every level in the future to achieve the shared goal of peacefully resolving the North Korean nuclear issue," the official said.

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