US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks during a briefing with the press in Buenos Aires, on July 21, 2018 in the framework of the G20 meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. The US Department of the Treasury on Tuesday announced sanctions on several individuals and entities over their involvement in actions against US sanction measures on Russia and the DPRK. (PHOTO / STR / AFP)

WASHINGTON - The US Department of the Treasury on Tuesday announced sanctions on several individuals and entities over their involvement in actions against US sanction measures on Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). 

In an announcement, the Treasury said it targeted two entities and two Russian individuals "in order to counter attempts to evade US sanctions." 

They were accused of providing assistance for a sanctioned Russian entity. 

The Treasury Department is disrupting Russian efforts to circumvent our sanctions

Steven Mnuchin, Secretary, US Treasury 

"The Treasury Department is disrupting Russian efforts to circumvent our sanctions," said US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. 

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As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests of the designated persons subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. 

In another separate announcement, the Treasury said it targeted two entities and six vessels for violating the UN and US sanctions on the DPRK. 

They were accused of involvement in ship-to-ship transfer of refined petroleum products with DPRK-flagged vessels, an activity prohibited by the UN Security Council. 

"Consequences for violating these sanctions will remain in place" until the final and fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK is achieved, said Mnuchin. 

The new moves are the latest among a series of the Trump administration's actions against Russia's alleged "threatening" activities against the United States. 

In response to US escalating actions, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill which allows him to respond to sanctions by the United States and other "unfriendly states." 

Under the new law, foreign entities could be prohibited from providing services for Russia's central and local governments, conducting trade with Russian counterparts, or participating in the privatization of Russian properties.  

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