SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- The United States is expected to announce fresh sanctions on North Korea early next week with the aim of drying up cash sources for the communist regime in funding its nuclear weapons programs, a diplomatic source here said Saturday.

   The U.S. has been putting its final touch on fresh financial sanctions targeting North Korea to punish Pyongyang for the deadly sinking of a South Korean warship in March and to force the regime to give up its nuclear weapons programs.

   "The U.S. administration plans to announce a list of those subject to the fresh sanctions early next week," the source said on the condition of anonymity.

   The list would include North Korean entities and people who have secured foreign currencies by selling conventional weapons overseas and buying luxury goods for the North's elite, the source said.

   The U.S. has collected evidence that nine North Korean financial institutions operating overseas and at least two trading firms have been used for the regime's illicit activities, such as trade in conventional arms, luxury goods and counterfeit money, the source said.

   The U.S. is expected to add some 20 North Korean entities and individuals to its blacklist, which will face the fresh sanctions that include having assets frozen in the U.S. and being banned from dealing with American financial institutions, according to the source.

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