Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun daily says the United States has asked the United Nations Security Council Sanctions Committee to freeze the assets of 17 North Korean entities.

The number is a sharp increase from the eight entities currently subject to the committee’s sanctions of frozen assets. Much attention is being drawn to China's stance as it was reluctant to further tighten sanctions against the North.

The U.S. presented the UNSC sanctions committee with a report that lists the names of the 17 entities as they are all reportedly linked to North Korea’s nuclear and missile development.

Japan and the European Union also plan on presenting their own lists to the committee as well.