The UN Security Council yesterday agreed to freeze the assets of three further North Korean entities said to be involved in the country’s missile and nuclear activities.

The three are Green Pine Conglomerate, Amroggang Development Banking Corp. and Korea Heungjin Trading Company.

The additions bring the total number of North Korean entities now under sanction to eleven.

"Taken together, we view this as a strong and credible set of new sanctions," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice told reporters.

The U.S.’ mission to the UN released a statement following the decision, saying, "The United States welcomes today's action by the Security Council's DPRK (1718) Sanctions Committee to impose new sanctions on North Korea and tighten enforcement of existing sanctions.”

"The Committee's strong and united response shows that the Security Council is determined that there be consequences for this provocation and any future North Korean violation."

However, the U.S., South Korea, Japan and the EU had initially proposed placing as many as 40 companies under sanction, and the extent to which this number was cut down in the face of Chinese opposition is bound to raise questions.