Kim Jong-un is pictured at an undisclosed location in North Korea in this undated photo provided April 17 by the North Korean government. The European Union has sanctioned eight individuals and four entities in connection with North Korea's nuclear weapons program. AP-Yonhap

The European Union has sanctioned eight individuals and four entities in connection with North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

The individuals concerned hold senior positions in institutions involved in the development of the North's missile program, a statement issued by the EU?said Thursday.

It said the sanctioned entities had circumvented previous punitive measures, possibly contributing to the financing of the illicit weapons programs.

North Korea is already subject to tough international sanctions in response to its controversial nuclear weapons program.

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The new measures reportedly freeze the assets of those affected, prohibit them from entering the EU and ban them from receiving funding in the bloc.

In total, the EU has sanctioned 65 individuals and 13 entities for their links to North Korea, in addition to the 80 people and 75 entities sanctioned by the UN. (DPA)