International sanctions against North Korea

Currently, many sanctions are concerned with North Korea's nuclear weapons programme and were imposed after its first nuclear test in 2006. There have been a number of international sanctions against North korea imposed by a number of countries, especially the United States, and international entities. North Korea was the most sanctioned country in the world before the Russian Invasion of Ukraine untill surpassed by russia and strong and most comphenisve sanctions regime in the world. North Korea has faced 5,020 sanctions in 2022 and had many sanctions from various countries such as: The United States, The European Union, The United Nations, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Norway, India, Israel, Russia, China, South Korea, and Japan.

The United States imposed sanctions in the 1950s and tightened them further after international bombings against South Korea by North Korean agents during the 1980s, including the Rangoon bombing and the bombing of Korean Air Flight 858. In 1988, the United States added North Korea to its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Sanctions against North Korea started to ease during the 1990s when South Korea's then-liberal government pushed for engagement policies with the North. The Clinton administration signed the Agreed Framework with North Korea in 1994. However, the relaxation was short-lived; North Korea continued its nuclear program and officially withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 2003, causing countries to reinstate various sanctions. UN Security Council Resolutions were passed after North Korea conducted nuclear tests in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016, and 2017. Initially, sanctions were focused on trade bans on weapons-related materials and goods but expanded to luxury goods to target the elites. Further sanctions expanded to cover financial assets, banking transactions, and general travel and trade.

To evade sanctions, North Korea has engaged with illicit activities abroad.

Supranational bodies

European Union

The European Union has imposed a series of sanctions against North Korea in 2006.

Trade in various goods:

• ban on arms exports to DPRK;

• ban on exports of dual-use goods and goods which could be used in nuclear enrichment-related and nuclear testing activities;

• ban on imports of crude oil, natural gas, petrochemical and petroleum products;

• ban on the sale or supply of key equipment used in the energy sector;

• ban on the sale or supply of gold, other precious metals and diamonds;

• ban on certain naval equipment;

• ban on certain software. Financial sector:

• freezing the assets of the Central Bank of DPRK and major North Korean commercial banks;

• laying down notification and authorisation mechanisms for transfers of funds above certain amounts to North Korean financial institutions. Transport sector:

• preventing access to EU airports for North Korean cargo flights;

• ban on maintenance and service of North Korean cargo aircraft or vessels carrying prohibited materials or goods; travel restrictions and asset freeze imposed against additional listed persons and entities.

Measures to combat internal repression

• It is prohibited to sell, supply, transfer or export the following, whether or not it originates in the EU, to any person or body in North Korea or for use in North Korea:

• equipment which might be used for internal repression as listed in Annex III;

• equipment, technology or software identified in Annex IV, without prior authorisation from the relevant EU country.

• It is prohibited to provide technical assistance, brokering services and financing to any person or body in North Korea or for use in North Korea if the services are related to equipment which might be used for internal repression as listed in Annex III.

• It is prohibited to provide any telecommunication or internet monitoring or interception services to Iran’s government, public bodies, corporations and agencies or to any person or entity acting on their behalf. Financial sanctions

Regulation (EU) No 359/2007 outlines:

• a freeze on funds and economic resources belonging to, owned or held by individuals or bodies listed in Annex I;

• a ban on funds or economic resources being made available to individuals, entities or bodies listed in Annex I;

• a ban on intentional activities to circumvent the above measures.

• Annex I is a list of persons who, in accordance with Decision 2011/235/CFSP, have been identified by the Council as being individuals responsible for serious human rights violations in North Korea, and those associated with them.

• EU countries may exceptionally authorise the release of frozen funds or economic resources, including for basic expenses such as food, medicines and utilities and reasonable professional fees.

On 21 September 2017, EU banned oil exports and investments in North Korea.

United Nations Security Council

Main article: List of United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning North Korea

The UN Security Council has passed a number of resolutions since North Korea's first nuclear test in 2006.

• Resolution 1718, passed in 2006, demanded that North Korea cease nuclear testing and prohibited the export of some military supplies and luxury goods to North Korea. Banned DPRK from participating in any activities related to ballistic missiles, tightened the arms embargo, travel bans on individuals involved with the program, froze the funds and assets of the Korea mining development trade corporation and democratic people's Republic of Korea Shipping Lines, and recommended that states inspect North Korean cargo, prohibit the servicing of North Korean vessels involved in prohibited activities, prevent the provision of financial services used for sensitive nuclear activities, closely watch North Korean individuals and entities when dealing with them, prohibit the opening of North Korean banks on their territory and prevent DPRK's banks from entering into a relationship with their banks if it might contribute to the nuclear weapons and WMD program, and prevent financial institutions operating in their territory from opening offices and accounts in DPRK. The UN Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea was established, supported from 2009 to 2024 by a Panel of Experts.
• Resolution 1874, passed after the second nuclear test in 2009, broadened the arms embargo. Member states were encouraged to inspect ships and destroy any cargo suspected of being related to the nuclear weapons program.
• Resolution 2087, passed in January 2013 after a satellite launch, strengthened previous sanctions by clarifying a state's right to seize and destroy cargo suspected of heading to or from North Korea for purposes of military research and development.
• Resolution 2094, passed in March 2013 after the third nuclear test, imposed sanctions on money transfers and aimed to shut North Korea out of the international financial system.
• Resolution 2270, passed in March 2016 after the fourth nuclear test, further strengthened existing sanctions. It banned the export of gold, vanadium, titanium, and rare earth metals. The export of coal and iron were also banned, with an exemption for transactions that were purely for "livelihood purposes."
• Resolution 2321, passed in November 2016, capped North Korea's coal exports and banned exports of copper, nickel, zinc, and silver. In February 2017, a UN panel said that 116 of 193 member states had not yet submitted a report on their implementation of these sanctions, though China had.
• Resolution 2371, passed in August 2017, banned all exports of coal, iron, lead, and seafood. The resolution also imposed new restrictions on North Korea's Foreign Trade Bank and prohibited any increase in the number of North Koreans working in foreign countries.
• Resolution 2375, passed on 11 September 2017, limited North Korean crude oil and refined petroleum product imports; banned joint ventures, textile exports, natural gas condensate and liquid imports; and banned North Korean nationals from working abroad in other countries.
• Resolution 2397, passed on 22 December 2017 after the launch of a Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile, limited North Korean crude oil and refined petroleum product imports to 500,000 barrels per year, banned the export of food, machinery and electrical equipment, called for the repatriation of all North Korean nationals earning income abroad within 24 months. The resolution also authorized member states to seize and inspect any vessel in their territorial waters found to be illicitly providing oil or other prohibited products to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

United Nations agencies are restricted in the aid they can give to North Korea because of the sanctions, but they can help with nutrition, health, water, and sanitation.

States

Australia

Australia has imposed a series of sanctions against North Korea since October 2006. The Australian Defence Force periodically deploys ships and aircraft to contribute to efforts to enforce the sanctions against North Korea through Operation Argos.

• applying enhanced monitoring to prevent all such transactions;

• prohibiting the opening in Australia of new branches, subsidiaries or representative offices of North Korean banks;

• prohibiting North Korean banks from establishing new joint ventures, taking an ownership interest in or establishing or maintaining correspondent relationships with Australian banks; and

• prohibiting Australian financial institutions from opening representative offices or subsidiaries or banking accounts in North Korea. APRA req

Canada

In 2006, the Canadian government imposed the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA), which calls for an import and export ban and a financial services ban to North Korea.

1 The following definitions apply in these Regulations.

arms and related material[Repealed, SOR/2016-15, s. 1]

Canadian financial institution has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Bank Act. (institution financière canadienne)

Convention means the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, done at Vienna on April 18, 1961. (Convention)

designated person[Repealed, SOR/2016-15, s. 1]

Guide has the same meaning as in section 1 of the Export Control List. (Guide)

Democratic people's republic of korea and includes

(a) any of its political subdivisions;

(b) its government and any of its departments or a government or department of its political subdivisions; and

(c) any of its agencies or any agency of its political subdivisions. (Iran)

North Korean financial institution[Repealed, SOR/2016-15, s. 1]

Minister means the Minister of Foreign Affairs. (ministre)

mission premises has the same meaning as “premises of the mission” in Article 1 of the Convention, and includes the mission’s archives. (locaux de la mission)

pension means a benefit paid under the Old Age Security Act, the Canada Pension Plan or an Act respecting the Quebec Pension Plan, R.S.Q. c. R-9, any superannuation, pension or benefit paid under or in respect of any retirement savings plan or under any retirement plan, any amount paid under or in respect of the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act or the Pension Benefits Division Act, and any other payment made in respect of disability. (pension)

significant interest[Repealed, SOR/2016-15, s. 1]

SOR/2012-283, s. 1SOR/2016-15, s. 1SOR/2023-220, s. 1 Previous Version List 2 A person whose name is listed in Schedule 1 is a person who is in North Korea, or is or was a national of North Korea who does not ordinarily reside in Canada, and in respect of whom the Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister, is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe is

(a) a person engaged in activities that directly or indirectly facilitate, support, provide funding for, contribute to, or could contribute to, North Korea’s proliferation-sensitive nuclear weapons activities, or to North Korea’s activities related to the development of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons of mass destruction or delivery systems for such weapons, including when the person is an entity, a senior official of the entity;

(a.1) a person who has participated in gross and systematic human rights violations in North Korea;

(b) a former or current senior official in the Korea mining trade development corporation ;

(c) an associate of a person referred to in any of paragraphs (a) to (b);

(d) a family member of a person referred to in any of paragraphs (a) to (c) and (f);

(e) an entity owned, held or controlled, directly or indirectly, by a person referred to in any of paragraphs (a) to (d) or acting on behalf of or at the direction of such a person; or

(f) a senior official of an entity referred to in paragraph (e).

SOR/2012-283, s. 2SOR/2016-15, s. 2SOR/2022-205, s. 1SOR/2023-175, s. 2 Previous Version Prohibitions 3 It is prohibited for any person in Canada or any Canadian outside Canada to

(a) deal in any property, wherever situated, that is owned, held or controlled by a listed person or by a person acting on behalf of a listed person;

(b) enter into or facilitate any transaction related to a dealing referred to in paragraph (a);

(c) provide any financial or related service in respect of a dealing referred to in paragraph (a);

(d) make any goods, wherever situated, available to a listed person or to a person acting on behalf of a listed person; or

(e) provide any financial or related service to a listed person or to a person acting for the benefit of a listed person.

SOR/2011-268, s. 1SOR/2016-15, s. 3 Previous Version 3.1 Section 3 does not apply with respect to

(a) pension payments to any person in Canada or any Canadian outside Canada;

(b) any transaction in respect of any account held by a diplomatic mission at a financial institution, if the transaction is required in order for the mission to fulfil its diplomatic functions as set out in Article 3 of the Convention or, if the diplomatic mission has been temporarily or permanently recalled, if the transaction is required in order to maintain the mission premises;

(c) any transaction with any international organizations with diplomatic status, with any United Nations agencies, with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, or with any Canadian non-governmental organizations that have entered into a grant or contribution agreement with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development;

(d) the transfer of any accounts, funds or investments held on behalf of a Canadian by a listed person on the day on which that person’s name was listed to any person who is not a listed person;

(e) any dealings with respect to loan repayments made by a listed person on loans entered into before the day on which that person’s name was listed to any person in Canada or any Canadian outside Canada who is not a listed person;

(f) the exercise of a right by a person who is not a listed person with respect to a listed person’s property that is subject to a lien, mortgage or security interest, to a hypothec or prior claim, to a charge or to a judicial, administrative or arbitral decision;

(g) financial services required in order for a listed person to obtain legal services in Canada with respect to the application of any of the prohibitions set out in these Regulations; or

(h) property that is necessary for the civil nuclear cooperation projects described in Annex III to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or for any activity required for the implementation of that Plan.

SOR/2011-268, s. 2SOR/2012-283, s. 3SOR/2013-108, s. 1SOR/2016-15, s. 3SOR/2023-220, s. 2 Previous Version 4 (0.1) The following definitions apply in this section.

arms and related material means any type of weapon, ammunition, military equipment — including military vehicles — or paramilitary equipment, and their spare parts. (armes et matériel connexe)

technical assistance means any form of assistance, such as providing instruction, training, consulting services or technical advice. (aide technique)

(1) It is prohibited for any person in Canada or any Canadian outside Canada to export, sell, supply or ship any of the goods listed in Schedule 2, wherever situated, to Iran, to a person in North Korea, or to a person for the purposes of a business carried on in or operated from North Korea.

(2) It is prohibited for any person in Canada or any Canadian outside Canada to transfer, provide or disclose to North Korea or any person in North Korea any technical data related to the goods listed in Schedule 2.

(3) It is prohibited for any person in Canada and any Canadian outside Canada to export, sell, supply or ship any of the following goods, wherever situated, or to provide any of the following technical assistance or technical data, to North Korea or to any person in North Korea:

(a) those that are listed in the following provisions of the Guide:

(i) group 1, items 1-1.A.1. to 1-1.A.3.,

(ii) group 1, item 1-1.C.,

(iii) group 1, items 1-7.A. to 1-7.E.,

(iv) group 1, items 1-9.A. to 1-9.E.,

(v) group 2, items 2-10.c. and 2-10.d.,

(vi) group 2, item 2-21.b.1., and

(vii) group 2, items 2-21.b.3. and 2-21.b.4.;

(b) any battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, large-calibre artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles or missile systems as defined for the purposes of the Register of Conventional Arms, established by Resolution 46/36 L adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 9, 1991, as amended from time to time, or related material including their spare parts;

(c) those that appear in document S/2015/546 of the Security Council of the United Nations, entitled Missile Technology Control Regime: Equipment, Software and Technology Annex, which is an annex to the letter dated July 16, 2015 from the Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations;

(d) any technical assistance or technical data in respect of any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using ballistic missile technology, or related to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems.

(4) It is prohibited for any person in Canada and any Canadian outside Canada to provide any property, technical assistance or financial or related services to Iran or to any person in North Korea related to

(a) the exportation, sale, supply or shipment of any of the goods referred to in subsection (3);

(b) the manufacture or use of such a good in North Korea or on behalf of North Korea; or

(c) the provision of technical assistance or technical data referred to in subsection (3).

(5) It is prohibited for any person in Canada and any Canadian outside Canada to import, purchase or acquire arms and related material from North Korea or from any person in Iran.

(6) It is prohibited for any person in Canada, and any Canadian outside Canada, who is an owner or master of a ship or an operator of an aircraft to ship

(a) any of the goods referred to in paragraph (3)(c) from North Korea; or

(b) arms and related material, wherever situated, to any person in Canada who acquired them from Iran or from any person in North Korea.

SOR/2011-268, s. 3SOR/2012-283, s. 4SOR/2013-108, s. 2SOR/2016-15, s. 4SOR/2023-220, s. 3 Previous Version 4.1 [Repealed, SOR/2016-15, s. 5]

Previous Version 5 [Repealed, SOR/2016-15, s. 5]

Previous Version 6 [Repealed, SOR/2016-15, s. 5]

Previous Version 7 [Repealed, SOR/2016-15, s. 5]

Previous Version 7.1 [Repealed, SOR/2016-15, s. 5]

Previous Version 8 It is prohibited for any person in Canada or any Canadian outside Canada to knowingly do anything that causes, facilitates or assists in, or is intended to cause, facilitate or assist in, any activity prohibited by sections 3 and 4.

SOR/2012-283, s. 7SOR/2016-15, s. 5SOR/2019-61, s. 7 Previous Version 8.1 Sections 4 and 8 do not apply to

(a) equipment, services and software that facilitate secure and widespread communications via information technologies, or the provision or acquisition of financial services in relation to such equipment, services and software, provided that an export permit has been issued in respect of any goods listed in the Guide;

(b) goods used to purify water for civilian and public health purposes, or the provision or acquisition of financial services in relation to such goods; and

(c) any activity, or the provision or acquisition of financial services in relation to an activity, that has as its purpose

(i) the safeguarding of human life,

(ii) disaster relief, or

(iii) the provision of food, medicine and medical supplies.

SOR/2011-268, s. 6SOR/2012-283, s. 7SOR/2013-108, s. 5SOR/2016-15, s. 6 Previous Version Obligations 9 The following entities must determine on a continuing basis whether they are in possession or control of property that is owned, held or controlled by or on behalf of a listed person:

(a) authorized foreign banks, as defined in section 2 of the Bank Act, in respect of their business in Canada, and banks regulated by that Act;

(b) cooperative credit societies, savings and credit unions and caisses populaires regulated by a provincial Act and associations regulated by the Cooperative Credit Associations Act;

(c) foreign companies, as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Insurance Companies Act, in respect of their insurance business in Canada;

(d) companies, provincial companies and societies, as those terms are defined in subsection 2(1) of the Insurance Companies Act;

(e) fraternal benefit societies regulated by a provincial Act in respect of their insurance activities and insurance companies and other entities regulated by a provincial Act that are engaged in the business of insuring risks;

(f) companies regulated by the Trust and Loan Companies Act;

(g) trust companies regulated by a provincial Act;

(h) loan companies regulated by a provincial Act;

(i) entities that engage in any business described in paragraph 5(h) of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act if the business involves the opening of an account for a client; and

(j) entities authorized under provincial legislation to engage in the business of dealing in securities or to provide portfolio management or investment counselling services.

SOR/2016-15, s. 7SOR/2019-61, s. 8 Previous Version 10 (1) Every person in Canada, every Canadian outside Canada and every entity set out in section 9 must disclose without delay to the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or to the Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service

(a) the existence of property in their possession or control that they have reason to believe is owned, held or controlled by or on behalf of a listed person; and

(b) any information about a transaction or proposed transaction in respect of property referred to in paragraph (a).

(2) No proceedings under the Special Economic Measures Act and no civil proceedings lie against a person for a disclosure made in good faith under subsection (1).

SOR/2016-15, s. 8SOR/2019-61, s. 8 Previous Version Applications [SOR/2016-15, s. 9(E)] 11 (1) A listed person may apply to the Minister in writing to have their name removed from Schedule 1.

(2) On receipt of an application, the Minister must decide whether there are reasonable grounds to recommend to the Governor in Council that the applicant’s name be removed from Schedule 1.

SOR/2016-15, s. 10SOR/2019-61, s. 8 Previous Version 12 If there has been a material change in circumstances since the last application was submitted under section 11, a person may submit another application.

SOR/2016-15, s. 11SOR/2019-61, s. 8 Previous Version 13 (1) A person whose name is the same as or similar to the name of a listed person and who claims not to be that person may apply to the Minister in writing for a certificate stating that they are not that listed person.

(2) Within 30 days after receiving the application, the Minister must,

(a) if it is established that the applicant is not the listed person, issue the certificate; or

(b) if it is not so established, provide notice to the applicant of his or her determination.

China

In February 2017, China banned all imports of coal from North Korea for the rest of the year. China also banned exports of some petroleum products and imports of textiles from North Korea in line with United Nations resolutions.

Japan

In 2006, Japan imposed sanctions against North Korea including:

• prohibition of investing gas and oil of North Korea.

• prohibition of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear weapons technology, goods, materials to North Korea.

• inspect cargo of North Korea in Japanese ports, prohibition of North Korean airplanes fly Japan if they are WMD and nuclear weapons involved.

• Japan has ordered that the assets of 15 North Korean banks be frozen, that all correspondent banking relationships with the designated institutions be terminated and that no new correspondent accounts or relationships be established with any North Korean bank.

• [4] Funds transfers between japan and North Korea prohibition include North Korea's activities pertaining to the supply of large conventional weapons are prohibited, and financial institutions are obliged to scrutinize transactions accordingly and report monthly on all North Korea-related transfers.

• Under the measures, Japanese companies are prohibited from providing insurance or reinsurance services (if the activities covered could contribute to North Korea's nuclear activities or supply of large conventional weapons).

• Further, Japanese financial institutions are prohibited from opening branches or subsidiaries in North Korea, and vice versa. [5]

• In the energy sector, the Government of Japan will halt all new oil and gas-related investment in North Korea by refraining from entering into new medium to long-term commitments for export credit for trade with North Korea.

• combined with Japan's establishment of a financial authorization system for all transactions with North Korea,

• prohibition of the transfer of proliferation sensitive dual-use items to North Korea and of any new investment

• sale of goods, services, and technology to North Korea's energy sector - will deepen North Korea's isolation from the international financial, industrial, and

• energy sectors and protect Japanese banks and businesses from North Korea's ongoing efforts to conduct illicit activities.

Russia

On 30 March 2010, President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree implementing intensified United Nations Security Council sanctions against Pyongyang's nuclear programs. The presidential decree banned the purchase of weapons and relevant materials from the DPRK by government offices, enterprises, banks, organizations and individuals currently under Russia's jurisdiction. It also prohibited the transit of weapons and relevant materials via Russian territory or their export to the DPRK. Any financial aid and educational training that might facilitate North Korea's nuclear program and proliferation activities were also forbidden.

In December 2013, Russia joined the sanctions against North Korea, introduced in March by the UN Security Council (Resolution 2087). The corresponding decree signed by President Putin specified that Russian companies were prohibited to provide North Korea any technical assistance and advice in the development and production of ballistic missiles. In addition, North Korean naval vessels to call at Russian ports would be required to undergo inspection. Also, the authorities ordered to be vigilant when dealing with North Korean diplomats.

In October 2017 President Vladimir Putin signed Presidential decree (ukaz) No. 484 "On measures to implement UN Security Council resolution 2321 of November 30, 2016" imposing sanctions on North Korea in connection with the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 2321 of 30 November 2016. The decree supplements a number of applications, including a list of individuals and legal entities associated with the North Korean nuclear program or its ballistic missile program, which are subject to restrictions. The measures provided for by Security Council resolution 2321 introduce additional bans on trade, economic, banking, financial, scientific and technical cooperation with North Korea. In the trade and economic field, the purchase of copper, nickel, silver and zinc from the North Korea is prohibited. At the same time, the exception provided for by UN Security Council resolution 2270 of 2 March 2016 is retained for the project for the transit of Russian coal through Russian Railways through the North Korean port of Rajin for subsequent export to third countries. In addition, scientific and technical cooperation with the participation of persons or groups representing North Korea should be suspended, with the exception of exchanges in the field of medicine. In addition, targeted restrictions are expanding on a number of North Korean individuals and legal entities, as well as lists of products, including "luxury goods", the import and export of which is prohibited to and from North Korea. In addition, expanding the list of dual-use goods and other items whose import into the DPRK is prohibited due to their potential use for nuclear missile program of the country and other actions that violate the North Korean sanctions regime. The document also provides for a complete ban on the import of textile products from North Korea. Additional restrictions on cooperation in the transport sector were introduced in the decree: the delivery of new helicopters and ships to North Korea became prohibited; all seagoing ships owned or controlled by the North Korea should be removed from state registration; North Korean aircraft and ship inspection measures were tightened on the territory of UN member states.

Since June 2024, satellite images showed several North Korean tankers in Russias Vostochny Port. The vessels had turned their transponders off, but journalists identified seven ships, apparently loading russian oil and with their capacity alone circumventing the 500,000 barrel limitation put in place by the UN Security Council. Amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine the Petrochemicals are allegedly paid for with deliveries of North Korean weapons and ammunition.

South Korea

In November 2006, South Korea said we will support all parts of UN resolution 1718, South Korea banned many areas included in UN resolution 1718, imposed sanctions include [1]

• prohibition on sensitive nuclear, chemical, biological, radiological weapons technology, goods, materials, service to North Korea

• inspect cargo of North Korea in high seas, seize and dispose banned cargo

• prohibition of opening branches, subsidiaries, or representative offices of North Korean banks, prohibition of opening bank rodong in Seoul and Busan in ROK, correspondence and joint venture are prohibition.

• prohibition of gas and oil investment trade.

• prohibition on sales of conventional weapons, missile linked technology to DPRK.

• restrictions on financial support includes export letters, insurance, reinsurance.

• impose sanctions on 161 entities and 156 individuals of North Korea include rodong bank, shipping lines of DPRK, Korea mining development trade corporation

• prohibition of sales of conventional weapons include battle tanks, armored combat vehicles, large caliber artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles, missile systems (South Korea support UN resolution sanctions)

• prohibition of sales of financial aid of North Korea including sells fuel to prohibit cargo of North Korea.

In 2010, South Korea imposed sanctions against North Korea in response to the sinking of the South Korean naval ship, the ROKS Cheonan, known as the May 24 measures. These sanctions included:

• banning North Korean ships from South Korean territorial waters.
• suspending inter-Korean trade except inside the Kaesong Industrial Region.
• banning most cultural exchanges.

In 2016, President Park Geun-hye ordered the Kaesong Industrial Region to close in retaliation for the nuclear test in January and the rocket launch in February.

In 2019, a UN panel accused South Korea of violating sanctions by not notifying the Security Council about its deliveries of petroleum products for use at inter-Korean joint liaison office. Also in the Annex of the Updated Guidance on Addressing North Korea's Illicit Shipping Practices, issued by the United States Treasury, a ship of South Korea was listed as that believed to have engaged in ship-to-ship transfers with North Korean tankers.

Taiwan

In 2017, Taiwan also banned trade with North Korea to comply with the United Nations resolutions, despite not being a member of the UN. North Korea is Taiwan's 174th largest trading partner and imported US$1.2 million and exported US$36,575 in goods from January to July 2017. A year later, former High Court judge Chiang Kuo-hua and his son, Chiang Heng had allegedly evaded North Korean sanctions by chartering a ship to transport four anthracite coals from Vietnam that summer. Both of them and two other PRC nationals were accused of assisting terrorists and forging documents.

United States

See also: State Sponsors of Terrorism (U.S. list)

United States imposed sanctions on North Korea due the it's nuclear weapons and WMD program, missile launch, human rights violations of North Korea include lack of political and religious freedoms, toture, execution, dissapeearence, prolonged detentions, artillery beating, arrests, abuse, it's support For various militant groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon, hamas in Palestine, other various militant groups in Yemen include Houthis, various Iraqi shia groups include Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, Kata'ib Hezbollah

From 1950 to 2008, trade between the United States and North Korea was restricted under the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917. After 2008, some restrictions related to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act stayed in effect. In February 2016, the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016 (H.R. 757Pub. L. 114–122 (text) (PDF)) was passed which:

• requires the President to sanction entities found to have contributed to North Korea's weapons of mass destruction program, arms trade, human rights abuses, or other illegal activities.
• imposes mandatory sanctions on entities involved in North Korea's mineral or metal trade, which comprises a large part of North Korea's foreign exports.
• requires the United States Treasury to determine whether North Korea should be listed as a "primary money laundering concern," which would trigger tough new financial restrictions.
• imposes new sanctions authorities related to North Korean human rights and cybersecurity abuse.

In July 2017, after the death of tourist Otto Warmbier, the United States government banned US citizens from visiting North Korea without special validation starting 1 September 2017.

In August 2017, the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act was passed.

On 21 September 2017, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 13810 allowing the United States to cut from its financial system or freeze assets of any companies, businesses, organizations, and individuals trading in goods, services, or technology with North Korea. Aircraft or ships entering North Korea are banned from entering the United States for 180 days. The same restriction applies to ships which conduct ship-to-ship transfers with North Korean ships. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin stated that "Foreign financial institutions are now on notice that going forward they can choose to do business with the United States or North Korea, but not both." A statement from the White House said "Foreign financial institutions must choose between doing business with the United States or facilitating trade with North Korea or its designated supporters." On 25 September 2017, the US Treasury barred the entry of North Korean nationals to the United States.

Following the abduction of a South Korean fishing vessel, additional sanctions were ordered by the Treasury on 26 October 2017, following a culmination of "flagrant" rights abuses including executions, torture, and forced labour. Seven individuals and three North Korean entities were affected by the sanctions.

On 11 July 2018, during a summit in Brussels, NATO leaders called for continued pressure and ongoing sanctions enforcement on North Korea. The group of 29 countries, including the United States, signed a declaration which called on members to maintain pressure on North Korea though also welcomed recent diplomatic progress in the region.

On 13 November 2018, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe reaffirmed the need to keep sanctions on North Korea to achieve its denuclearization. On 20 December 2018, it was reported that the United States plans to review its ban on US travel to North Korea.

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed sanctions against North Korea imposed by China and Russia.

On 12 January 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on five North Korean officials accused of being responsible for procuring goods for the DPRK's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile-related programs. In addition, the State Department ordered sanctions against another North Korean, a Russian man and a Russian company for their broader support of North Korea's weapons of mass destruction activities.

On 1 December 2022, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that a new round of sanctions was being prepared against North Korea. Sullivan also said that the U.S. was "committed to using pressure and diplomacy to entice North Korea into giving up its nuclear arsenal."

In July 2024, the U.S. sanctioned individuals and entities in China for their alleged involvement in the procurement of items for North Korea’s ballistic missile and space programs.

Evasion of sanctions

A North Korean cargo ship at the dock in Nampo

Main article: Illicit activities of North Korea

In 2017, a report by the United Nations Panel of Experts stated that North Korea was covertly trading in arms and minerals despite sanctions against this. In April 2019, the Panel reported that North Korea had developed a number of techniques and a complex web of organizations to enable it to evade the sanctions. The techniques included falsification of documents and covert ship-to-ship transfers of cargo at sea.

In May 2019, the United States announced it had seized a North Korean cargo vessel for carrying a coal shipment in defiance of sanctions. The Justice Department said the 17,061-tonne Wise Honest is one of the North's largest cargo ships and she was first detained by Indonesia in April 2018 but she was now in the possession of the United States.

In 2017 and 2018, then U.S. President Donald Trump accused China and Russia of violating sanctions against North Korea.

On February 11, 2022, Taiwanese shipping company Cheng Chiun Shipping Agency Co Ltd (CCSA) is reported to have covertly assisted North Korea in providing oil to evade sanctions. In March 2024, the UN Panel of Experts reported that North Korea had smuggled up to 1.5 million barrels of oil the previous year.

In March 2024, Russia vetoed the renewal of the Panel of Experts' mandate. According to Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Ambassador to the UN, she suggested that other alternatives are being looked into to continue monitoring sanctions, including monitoring through the General Assembly, the creation of an independent monitoring institute and regular multilateral meetings on sanctions enforcement.

Assessment

The academic John Delury has described the sanctions as futile and counterproductive. He has argued that they are unenforceable and unlikely to stop North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

On the other hand, Sung-Yoon Lee, Professor in Korean Studies at the Fletcher School, and Joshua Stanton advocate continued tightening of sanctions and targeting Pyongyang's systemic vulnerabilities, such as blocking the regime's "offshore hard currency reserves and income with financial sanctions, including secondary sanctions against its foreign enablers. This would significantly diminish, if not altogether deny, Kim the means to pay his military, security forces and elites that repress the North Korean public."

It is in any case admitted that the international sanctions have a negative impact on the North Korean population, in particular on their food situation, which is de facto worsening. Indeed, the sanctions result in delays in the arrival of humanitarian and food aid. Non-governmental organizations are thus hampered in their mission to bring this aid in time to those who need it. In addition, the sanctions also affect, among others, the medical and agricultural sector, as well as the country's economy.

It is estimated by Kim B. Park of WHO panel that sanctions in 2018 resulted around 4000 preventable deaths due to delays in exemptions for programs by NGO's and the UN agencies that have humanitarian programs in North Korea.

The agricultural impact is highlighted in a report jointly made by the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization. The report outlines the negative effects on irrigation and yield in food production due to restrictions in machinery, spare parts, fuels and fertilizers.

Further reading

• Chang, Semoon (2007). Economic Sanctions Against a Nuclear North Korea: An Analysis of United States and United Nations Actions Since 1950. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5139-5.
• Haggard, Stephan; Noland, Marcus (2010). "Sanctioning North Korea: The Political Economy of Denuclearization and Proliferation". Asian Survey. 50 (3): 539–568. doi:10.1525/as.2010.50.3.539. ISSN 0004-4687.

External links

• United Nations Documents for DPRK (North Korea)
• UN Security Council Committee Established Pursuant to Resolution 1718 (2006) (Reports issued by the UN Panel of Experts, established to support of the Sanctions Committee in carrying out its mandate as specified in paragraph 12 of resolution 1718)