The European Union here on Friday decided to expand restrictive measures against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), adding 16 people and 12 entities to the list of targets subject to EU sanctions.

According to the Council of the EU, the decision transposes the new listings imposed by United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2270 adopted on March 2 in response to DPRK's nuclear test and rocket launch on Jan. 6 and Feb. 7 this year.

EU restrictive measures against the DPRK were first introduced on Dec. 22, 2006. The existing measures implement all UNSC resolutions adopted after the DPRK's nuclear tests and launches using ballistic missile technology and also include additional EU autonomous measures.

Both the UN and the EU autonomously imposed measures targeting financial services, trade and transport.

The EU last strengthened its measures on April 22, 2013, transposing UNSC resolution 2094.