The United States government announced that it had sanctioned two other individuals linked to the transportation and procurement of goods in the name of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States State Department Spokesperson Ned Price confirmed Tuesday.

"Ri Sok and Yan Zhiyong are representatives of the DPRK's national airline Air Koryo, and they help the airline transport goods back to DPRK on behalf of two designated entities involved in intelligence activities," said Price in a statement, while adding that the administration is determined to counter the "regime's attempts to raise funds" via illegal activities.

The announcement comes just as tensions between Western allies and North Korea have escalated over the latest missile launches.