U.S. urges int'l community to join forces in sanctioning N. Korea, Iran

The United States Tuesday called on the international community to join forces in sanctioning North Korea and Iran under U.N. resolutions banning arms sales and other illegal transactions, a news report said.

"It can't be just one part of the world but not another part of the world," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley was quoted by Yonhap News as saying.

"This has to be done effectively across the international community to have the effect that we want to and convince the leaders of Iran or North Korea to change course."

The news wire said Crowley's remarks came soon after the U.S. Treasury Department announced a new list of 21 Iranian companies and several Iranian officials for their alleged support of terror groups and transfer of weapons banned by U.N. resolution. 

The resolution was adopted in June in light of Tehran's failure to get rid of its uranium fuel, suspected of being used for making nuclear bombs, the news report said.

Robert Einhorn, the State Department's special adviser for nonproliferation and arms control who oversees U.S. sanctions on North Korea and Iran, said Monday Washington will soon list North Korean entities and individuals involved in trading weapons, luxury goods, counterfeit money, cigarettes, drugs and other illegal activities prohibited by U.N. resolutions adopted after the North's nuclear and missile tests early last year.

The U.S. currently blacklists more than 20 North Korean entities and individuals.

Washington has said it will establish "new executive authorities" to that effect and try to persuade the international community to voluntarily cut off ties with listed North Korean entities and individuals.