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North Korea Sanctions

 

The United Nations Security Council has passed 21 Security Council resolutions concerning North Korea since 2006, when the first resolution of the current crisis – resolution 1718 – was adopted by consensus in response to the nuclear test of 9 October 2006. The sanctions resolutions oblige UN Member States to implement sanctions measures with the goal of targeting North Korea’s ability to pursue its nuclear, missile, and conventional military programs.

Categories of Sanctions Measures

United Nations sanctions on North Korea are composed of a broad range of measures that countries must implement to be compliant with their United Nations obligations. The measures target and counter the various ways in which North Korea finances, develops, tests, and uses its weapons programs. 

Sanctioned Commercial Sectors

UN sanctions target a range of commercial sectors. The focus is often to deprive the target of sanctions with particularly essential goods or products. In other cases, the focus is on the particular vulnerabilities of the target in question.

Commodities

UN sanctions target commodities that have direct application in sensitive activities, such as nuclear programs. In other cases, they target commodities of particular interest to the focus of sanctions in order to apply specific pressure on it.

Advisories & Guidance

Advisories and guidance issued by regulatory authorities concerning North Korea sanctions. Regulators around the world have issued advisories and other guidance to highlight the sanctions evasions tactics employed by North Korea and aid industry in implementing appropriate controls. 

Sanctions Evasion Methods

Common sanctions evasion methods and typologies employed to facilitate the North Korean government 

Resolutions

UN Security Council Resolutions pertaining to North Korea

Targeted Sanctions

The 1718 Sanctions List currently contains the names of 80 individuals and 75 entities. 

These individuals and entities were designated between 2009 and 2017. 

Program Timeline

Chronology of UN sanctions imposed on North Korea

Panel of Experts

The Panel of Experts supports the work of the 1718 Sanctions Committee. The Panel is comprised of eight experts and is based in New York City. The Panel of Experts can be contacted via email at: dppa-poe1874@un.org

Reports from the Panel of Experts

As delineated by DPRK Security Council resolutions, the Panel of Experts is mandated to: 

  • Gather, examine and analyze information from States, relevant United Nations bodies and other interested parties regarding the implementation of the measures, and gather, examine and analyze information in particular, on incidents of non-compliance;
  • Make recommendations on actions that the Council, Committee or Member States may consider to improve implementation of the measures.

The following are Reports from the Panel of Experts:

March 7, 2023
September 7, 2022
March 1, 2022
March 4, 2021
August 28, 2020
March 2, 2020
August 30, 2019
March 5, 2019
March 5, 2018
September 5, 2017
February 27, 2017
February 24, 2016
February 23, 2015
March 6, 2014
June 11, 2013
June 14, 2012
November 5, 2010