A former official of the U.S. State Department says future sanctions on North Korea should focus on giving a direct blow to the cash flow of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
 
Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Nonproliferation Joseph DeThomas said Thursday that the North “looks like a good place for targeted sanctions.” He made the remark during a news conference organized by North Korea analysis Web site, 38 North.
 
He stressed “very targeted mechanisms” that would go after the leadership without doing damage to the North Korean people would be the most definite sanctions against Pyongyang.
 
DeThomas said the reason targeted sanctions haven’t been sought against foreign banks that hold the North Korean leader’s hard currency is due to lack of information. He said if the source of where Kim raises money can be discovered, the hard currency that Kim has put aside in foreign banks can be found.