As Gen. McMaster previewed earlier in the day, moments ago President Trump announced a new executive action that "significantly expands" US authority to target individuals, companies and financial institutions that finance or facilitate trade with North Korea.
“I am announcing a new executive order to sign that significantly expands authorities to target individuals, companies, financial institutions that finance and facilitate trade with North Korea,” Trump said.
While details remains scarce, among the notable big picture actions to be taken include:
- TRUMP SAYS CHINA'S CENTRAL BANK HAS ORDERED THEIR BANKS TO STOP DOING BUSINESS WITH NORTH KOREA
- TRUMP SAYS EFFORT WILL ALSO TARGET NORTH KOREAS SHIPPING, TRADE NETWORKS
The official announcement, which was made just before a United Nations summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
Here's Trump introducing the new executive order pic.twitter.com/IG0qOO6mRv
— Meg Wagner (@megwagner) September 21, 2017
Japan was happy with the announcement":
- JAPAN'S SHINZO ABE WELCOMES NEW ACTION BY UNITED STATES
- JAPAN'S ABE: `NEW STAGE OF PRESSURE' AGAINST NORTH KOREA
That said, as discussed earlier, Trump has once again refused to push the boundary too far and anger China, and as a result the president once again refused to implement any oil-linked sanctions, potentially limiting the only trade flow between China and North Korea that matters.