U.S. Response to DPRK-Russia Ballistic Missile Transfers

The United States remains committed to disrupting and exposing arms transfers between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Russia. In line with this ongoing effort, the Department of State is imposing sanctions today on one individual and three entities involved in the transfer to Russia and testing of DPRK-origin ballistic missiles by Russia since late November 2023. Additionally, four aircraft owned by the U.S.-designated Command of the Military Transport Aviation (VTA) are being identified as blocked property. These actions are taken under Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, which authorizes sanctions for specified harmful foreign activities of the Government of the Russian Federation.

Under section 1(a)(vii), the following entity is designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Government of the Russian Federation:

Joint Stock Company the 224th Flight Unit State Airlines (224th Flight Unit State Airlines) is a state-owned enterprise that emerged from Russia’s Air Force to provide commercial air cargo transport services. Notably, two previously identified aircraft associated with this entity, bearing tail numbers RA-78817 and RA-82030, are assessed to have been involved in the transfers of DPRK ballistic missiles in late November 2023. 224th Flight Unit State Airlines was previously designated on May 19, 2023, for materially assisting Private Military Company (PMC) Wagner, and several aircraft were identified as blocked property at that time.

Under section 1(a)(iii)(C), an individual is designated for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of 224th Flight Unit State Airlines:

Vladimir Vladimirovich Mikheychik is identified as the General Director of 224th Flight Unit State Airlines.

Under section 1(a)(i), the following entities are designated for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy:

• Vladimirovka Advanced Weapons and Research Complex (VAWARC) is a Russian military facility involved in missile testing. The weapons-testing complex in western Russia, including facilities, airfields, and missile ranges, was involved in the transfer and testing of DPRK ballistic missiles by Russia in late 2023.
• Ashuluk Firing Range is a Russian missile testing range.

Four aircraft with tail numbers RF-86898, RF-78757, RF-82011, and RF-82041 are identified as blocked property of VTA, and it is assessed that these aircraft were involved in the transfers of DPRK ballistic missiles and missile-related cargo in November and December 2023. VTA was previously designated on December 9, 2022, and October 18, 2023, for operating in the defense sector of the Russian Federation economy and engaging in activities contributing to the supply, sale, or transfer of arms to Iran.

Implications of these sanctions

As a result of these actions, all property and interests in property of the designated individuals and entities within the United States or in possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked under E.O. 14024. Reporting to the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is required. Ownership, directly or indirectly, of 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons also results in a blocking designation. All transactions involving property or interests in property of designated or blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by OFAC. This includes contributions, provision of funds, goods, or services to or for the benefit of blocked persons, as well as the receipt of any such contributions or services.

It is emphasized that the effectiveness of U.S. government sanctions lies not only in the ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated National (SDN) List but also in the willingness to remove persons from the SDN List in accordance with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is to bring about positive changes in behavior rather than merely to punish.