WASHINGTON, Aug 23: The United States has imposed symbolic sanctions on a North Korean company and the North Korean government for exporting medium or long-range missile components, the government said on Friday.

A notice in the Federal Register said Changgwang Sinyong Corp had “engaged in missile technology proliferation activities that require the imposition of sanctions” under the arms export control act.

Officials declined to give details of the exports, but The New York Times said it sold Scud components to Yemen before US President George W. Bush came to office in January last year.

The sanctions came at a sensitive time in attempts to restore Washington’s dialogue with North Korea, which Bush calls part of an “axis of evil” because of its alleged support for “terrorist” groups and alleged programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction.

But the Bush administration played down the implications of the sanctions for the prospects for talks. “It doesn’t change our policy. The administration is open to talks with North Korea without preconditions,” an administration official said.

For two years starting Aug 16, the United States will not approve licences for exports by the company or to the company and the US government will not make contracts with the company for sensitive missile technology, the register said.

Similar sanctions apply to the North Korean government because North Korea is a non-market economy, it added.

Changgwang Sinyong Corp is the marketing arm for the government’s missile export program.

LARGELY SYMBOLIC: The sanctions are largely symbolic because the United States does not have dealings with the company and does not have any direct control over its export activities.

Exports to Yemen would qualify for sanctions because it is not a party to the Missile Technology Control Regime.

The specific citation applies to components and materials for missiles with a range greater than 300kms.—Reuters