The Treasury Department announced it sanctioned a North Korean company on Thursday that helped funnel money to the communist country’s weapons programs. The Korea Sobaeksu Trading Company was sanctioned by the U.

North Korea issued a warning to Washington, insisting that any attempt by President Donald Trump’s second administration to revive stalled denuclearisation talks would be “nothing but a mockery.” In a statement broadcast by North Korean state media,

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un dismissed the US intent to resume diplomacy on North Korea’s denuclearization, saying Tuesday the North flatly opposes any attempt to deny its position as a nuclear weapons state.

The United States Department of the Treasury on Thursday issued sanctions against three individuals and a company based in North Korea and China, the department said on its website.

There has been cautious optimism in the South that the North may respond positively and may even show willingness to re-engage in dialogue.

North Korea has rejected recent proposals by South Korea’s government to ease tensions between the two countries. The communist country cited South Korea’s cooperation and strong ties with the U.S. as the main reasons for spurning de-escalation attempts.