US President Obama has signed a new executive order ratcheting up sanctions on North Korea in retaliation for its nuclear and ballistic missile tests, USA Today reported on Thursday.

"The order is not targeted at the people of North Korea, but rather is aimed at the Government of North Korea and its activities that threaten the United States and others," Obama said in a message to Congress.

The order targets North Koreans who work in the mining, energy, transportation or banking industries, who help acquire nuclear or missile components or software, who are engaged in human rights abuses or human trafficking, or who are involved in hacking, censorship or sanctions evasion.

The Treasury Department immediately applied those sanctions to 17 government officials and organizations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including the Workers’ Party of Korea Propaganda and Agitation Department, and blocked 20 vessels that have done business with North Korea from entering US ports, carrying US cargo or being sold for US dollars.

Source: MENA