Photo released by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Aug. 25, 2016 shows top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un (C) guiding a test-firing of a strategic submarine-launched ballistic missile. (Xinhua/KCNA)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Despite worldwide worries over the mounting tensions in the Korean Peninsula, the U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday sanctioned one individual, 13 entities and 20 vessels in relation with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), in a bid to disrupt the nation's funding of "unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs."

U.S. SANCTIONS

In a statement, the department said the sanctions targeted "persons with long-standing commercial ties" to Pyongyang and the transportation networks that facilitate its revenue generation and operations.

Washington was "steadfast" in its efforts to maximize economic pressure on the DPRK and to isolate it from outside sources of trade and revenue, said U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin.

Earlier on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced to pull the DPRK back into the list of state sponsors of terror, from which it had been removed in 2008 by the Bush administration.

Trump also vowed to slap sanctions against the Asian nation. However, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said later on the same day that the sanctions were "very symbolic" and "practical effects may be limited," noting that Pyongyang has "an enormous capacity to withstand a lot."

PYONGYANG VOWS SELF-RELIANCE

For its part, the DPRK's official media reported Tuesday that Kim Jong Un, the nation's top leader, has called on his nationals to display a spirit of self-reliance in their endeavor for economic development.

The DPRK has been under tough UN sanctions adopted to check its nuclear and missile development.

Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday called for more efforts to ease tension on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and settle the issue through dialogue and consultation.

Given the complex and sensitive situation on the peninsula, China hopes all parties will do more to ease tensions and return to negotiations, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang.

U.S. EFFORTS LIKELY FUTILE

As there are already many sanctions on the DPRK, Trump's announcement and further sanction were "largely symbolic," said Dan Mahaffee, senior vice president and director of policy at the Center for the Study of Congress and the Presidency.

Mike Mazarr at the U.S.-based think tank RAND Corporation was also likeminded. "I see no reason to believe that the result will make life more difficult for the North Korea," he told Xinhua, noting that "This specific action need not preclude a future resolution of the issue."

"It is not clear where this pressure, including the terrorism designation, is leading, except for a new crisis when the United States must choose whether to escalate, possibly to military action, or back off its demands and suffer severe damage to its credibility," Mazarr said.

The U.S. latest decision "does ratchet up tensions at a time when some are arguing for dialogue," Mahaffee added.

Analysts argued that re-designating Pyongyang won't solve anything, rather, it could trigger a new round of harsh response from the Asian nation, when peace-making efforts to reduce tensions in the Peninsula are badly needed.

(Matthew Rusling in Washington contributed to the story)