Washington, June 13 (IANS). The US Treasury Department has released a list of medical devices whose export to North Korea will now require “specific authorization”. This information has come to light from a notice published in the Federal Register.
The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has released a list of medical devices that can no longer be exported or re-exported to North Korea under the general license that previously allowed the export of certain agricultural products, drugs and medical devices.
OFAC said that exports to North Korea of items included in the new list will now require its specific authorization. This list has become effective from Thursday. This information was given in the report of Yonhap News Agency.
The new list includes oxygen generators, pumps with flow rates greater than one liter per minute, and diagnostic medical imaging equipment. Prominent among these are gamma imaging equipment, tactile imaging equipment and thermography equipment.
A number of laboratory equipment have also been included in the list, such as freeze-drying and spray-drying machines, decontamination showers, laboratory shakers, incubator shakers and carbon dioxide incubators.
Experts believe that these new licensing rules may limit the export of dual-use items that can be used for both civilian and military purposes. This step has been taken at a time when North Korea is further advancing its weapons programs amid stalled talks with the US and South Korea on its nuclear program.
Meanwhile, a senior South Korean official has said it is “too early” to say whether President Lee Jae Myung will hold summit talks with US President Trump during next week’s G-7 summit in France.
The comments came on Thursday when both the leaders were expected to attend the G-7 summit to be held in Even, France from Monday to Wednesday.
President Li is scheduled to attend the G-7 summit as the head of the invited partner countries from Tuesday to Wednesday. This will be the second consecutive year that South Korea has been invited to the event.
A senior South Korean official said, “If the opportunity arises, talks can take place but at the moment it is difficult to comment on the possibility of such a meeting.”
–IANS
PM