NEW DELHI - India on Oct 27 banned exports and imports of all items from North Korea which can be used in nuclear or ballistic missile plans of the communist nation.

The decision conforms to United Nations Security Council resolutions and the International Atomic Energy Agency action imposing sanctions on North Korea in the nuclear field following the country not heeding to their demand of refraining from conducting nuclear tests or missile tests.

The Commerce Ministry imposed a blanket ban on “all items, materials, equipment, goods and technologies which could contribute to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear-related, ballistic missile-related to other weapons of mass destruction-related programs”.

According to a notification of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, the ban will cover both direct or indirect trade of these items.

Items that come under the ban include industrial equipment such as high density shields, robots, testing equipment like uranium isotope separation equipment, controlled atmosphere induction furnaces for vacuum and inert gas.             (PTI)