WASHINGTON (Reuters), -The United States imposed sanctions against two Russian firms and a North Korean entity, it was said Thursday by the State Department. The sanctions were aimed at preventing them from transferring sensitive materials to North Korea’s missile programme.

They referred to the Russian entities under the names Ardis Group LLC of Companies LLC (Ardis Group), PFK Profpodshipnik LLC. It named the North Korean entity subject to sanctions as the Second Academy of Natural Science Foreign Affairs Bureau.

The State Department also stated that Ri Sung Chol, a North Korean national, and Igor Aleksandrovich Michurin, a Russian national, were sanctioned.

This announcement of sanctions came at the exact same time that North Korea had announced it was testing a new and powerful intercontinental ballistic weapon.

“These measures are part of our ongoing efforts to impede the DPRK’s ability to advance its missile program and they highlight the negative role Russia plays on the world stage as a proliferator to programs of concern,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement, referring to North Korea by the initials of its official name.

Zhengzhou Nanbei Instrument Equipment Co Ltd was also approved by the United States for providing equipment to Syria under a nonproliferation regime that includes chemical and biological weapons. This is known as Australia Group.

According to the State Department, the sanction against the Chinese company highlighted Beijing’s failures in export control and nonproliferation.