Donald Trump administration to announce sanctions on North Korea

The Trump administration plans to announce new sanctions on North Korea on Tuesday, after declaring it a state sponsor of terrorism in the latest push to isolate the pariah nation. North Korea has joined Iran, Sudan and Syria on America's terror blacklist, a largely symbolic step as the administration already has the authority to impose any sanctions it wants on Kim Jong Un's government over its nuclear weapons development.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson listens as President Donald Trump announces that the US will designate North Korea a state sponsor of terrorism. Pic/AFP

As part of its 'maximum pressure' campaign, Trump said the Treasury Department would impose more sanctions on NK and 'related persons' starting on Tuesday, without hinting who or what would be targeted. The move is part of rolling effort to deprive Pyongyang of funds for its nuclear programmes and leave it internationally isolated.