US freezes assets of 2 NKorean entities for alleged nuclear and missile activity

September 24th, 2009 Japan says NKorean nukes threaten worldUNITED NATIONS — Newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama warned the world community that North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles threaten not only North Asia but the whole international community, and "cannot be condoned under any circumstances." Hatoyama told the U.N. General Assembly that it is imperative that North Korea obey Security Council resolutions and that the international community enforce them.

September 18th, 2009 NATO proposes link with Russia's missile defenseBRUSSELS — NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has urged the Western alliance and Russia to consider linking their defensive missile systems. He says NATO and Russia have a shared interest in combatting the proliferation of intercontinental ballistic missile technology in other countries.

September 3rd, 2009 US sanctions 6 Mexicans accused of meth trade tiesMEXICO CITY — The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on six Mexicans linked to a pharmaceutical company that allegedly diverted precursor chemicals to a methamphetamine trafficking gang.

July 30th, 2009 US tightens financial noose on North KoreaWASHINGTON — The Obama administration moved Tuesday to freeze the assets of a North Korean bank accused of providing financial services to companies involved in Pyongyang's missile programs. The Treasury Department's action against Korea Kwangson Banking Corp., or KKBC, means any bank accounts or other financial assets found in the United States that belong to the firm are blocked.

July 7th, 2009 SEC alleges oil-and-gas Ponzi schemeDALLAS — Federal regulators have frozen the assets of a Delaware company accused of swindling nearly 8,000 investors in a $485 million Ponzi scheme that falsely promised hefty returns on investments in the oil and gas business, officials said Tuesday. Three businessmen in Dallas, where Provident Royalties LLC has its main office, ran the nationwide operation involving fraudulent securities offerings between June 2006 and January 2009, the Securities and Exchange Commission alleged in civil complaint filed in a North Texas federal court.

July 7th, 2009 SEC freezes assets of Dallas companyDALLAS — Federal regulators have frozen the assets of a company accused of running a $485 million Ponzi scheme centered on the oil and gas industry. In a statement issued Tuesday, the Securities and Exchange Commission says the scheme was orchestrated by three Dallas businessmen through a company called Provident Royalties LLC.

July 3rd, 2009 Missile experts see Soviet parts in NKorean rocketWASHINGTON — With concerns rising about a possible North Korean long-range missile test this weekend, two independent scientists say the regime may be using an old Soviet ballistic missile to boost a rocket capable of reaching the West Coast of the United States. North Korea is not known to have nuclear warheads and faces years of research and testing before building such a reliable weapon.

July 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - The United States has decided to freeze the assets of three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commanders, who were supposedly behind the November 2008 Mumbai carnage. Sanctions would also be imposed on an Al-Qaeda backer, Ameen Al-Peshawari, The Nation reports.

July 2nd, 2009 Obama keeps door open for NKorean nuclear talksWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says the United States is trying to "keep a door open" for North Korea to return to international nuclear disarmament talks, even as Washington pursues sanctions against the North. Obama told The Associated Press on Thursday that there could be more sanctions in store for the North for its May nuclear test.

June 30th, 2009 Judge freezes Pang's assets during SEC probeLOS ANGELES — A federal judge has temporarily frozen the assets of a Southern California financier while he is under investigation by the Securities Exchange Commission. The judge on Monday ordered Danny Pang, who is accused of defrauding investors in his Private Equity Management Group companies, to repatriate any assets sent overseas and turn over his passports.

May 29th, 2009 Officials: NKorea may plan long-range missile testWASHINGTON — U.S. officials say there are new signs North Korea may be planning even more missile launches in a show of strength following worldwide condemnation of its underground nuclear test.

May 25th, 2009 SEOUL - North Korea appears to have test-fired one short-range missile Monday after it conducted a second nuclear test, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said. The 130 km-range missile was fired from its Musudanri missile base in Southern Hamkyung province, Yonhap said.

May 19th, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - India Tuesday successfully tested the nuclear capable Agni-II missile from a defence base in Orissa, official sources said. The surface-to-surface missile with a range of over 2,000 km was test fired from the Wheeler's Island near Dhamara in the district of Bhadrak, some 150 km from here at 10.06 a.m.

April 20th, 2009 UN says NKorea could restart nuclear facilityBEIJING — The head of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog says North Korea could restart its nuclear facility within months, but that he hopes negotiations on halting Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions can be revived. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed El-Baradei said Monday "it could be a question of months" when asked how soon North Korea could restart its nuclear facility.

April 15th, 2009 BALASORE - India Wednesday test fired the nuclear capable surface to surface Prithvi-II missile from a test range in Orissa, defence sources said. The missile, tested from the Integrated Test Range of Chandipur in Balasore district at 10.21 a.m., has a range of about 350 km, officials said.