On January 2, 2015, President Obama issued an Executive Order
(EO) imposing new sanctions against North Korea. According to a
Treasury Department press release, the sanctions were issued in
response to the North Korean government's "numerous
provocations, particularly the recent cyber-attack targeting Sony
Pictures Entertainment and the threats against movie theaters and
moviegoers."
The EO bans US citizens and companies from dealing with, and
requires them to block the property and interests in property of,
any person determined to be an official of the North Korean
government, an official of the Workers' Party of Korea, or an
agency, instrumentality, or controlled entity of either. The EO
also bans US persons from dealing with and requires them to block
the property and interests in property of any person
determined:
