The United States on Friday imposed fresh sanctions on a network of Russian-based individuals and companies accused of assisting North Korea in procuring components for its nuclear weapons programs. The announcement came after Washington asserted that Pyongyang had used an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system in its two recent launches on Feb. 26 and March 4. “The [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] continues to launch ballistic missiles in blatant violation of international law, posing a grave threat to global security,” under secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said, referring to North Korea’s official name. The sanctions targeted two Russians, Aleksandr Andreyevich Geyevoy and Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Chasovnikov, as well as three Russian companies, including Apollon, Zeel-M, and RK Briz. All of their property and assets in the United States will be blocked as a result of the sanctions. The U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement that …