US early lifts sanctions on JS Research over illegal trade in Syria

JS Research included in sanctions for illegal trade with Syria, then lifted

(Washington = Yonhap News) Correspondent Hong Jeong-gyu = The U.S. administration early terminated sanctions against Korean companies that were accused of illegally trading weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and missile development technology and supplies with Syria.

It was learned on the 6th (local time) that the U.S. State Department decided to end the measures imposed on JS Research, a Korean company, and its successor companies, sub-organizations, or subsidiaries in a preliminary notice in the Official Gazette.

This decision was made on the 27th of last month, and is scheduled to be officially published in the Official Gazette on the 8th.

Sanctions against JS Research were implemented on January 22nd. At the time, this company was subject to sanctions along with five other companies, including North Korean national Choi Cheol-min, North Korea's 2nd Academy of Natural Sciences Foreign Affairs Bureau (SANS FAB), and Chinese, Lebanese, and United Arab Emirates national companies, on charges of violating the 'Iran, North Korea, and Syria Non-Proliferation Act' (INKSNA).

The non-proliferation law provides for sanctions against companies and individuals who trade WMD-related materials or technology with Iran, Syria, and North Korea. The Non-Proliferation Act was enacted in 2000, and was expanded and revised to include North Korea in 2006.

The original sanction period was two years, but JS Research's sanctions ended after about seven months. The U.S. State Department did not disclose the reason for the early termination.

Given that the charges against JS Research were known to be allegations of illegal transactions with Syria, it seems to be unrelated to the US administration's withdrawal of the designation of Syria as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST) on the 24th of last month following the easing of sanctions against Syria.