International sanctions against North Korea
Among the methods used to evade sanctions, North Korea actively employs shell companies, cryptocurrency transactions, and illegal shipments through third countries.
In response, OFAC and other international organizations have tightened control over financial transactions and shipping routes in an effort to cut off the regime's funding sources.
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 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.
[5] 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.
[20] The Australian Defence Force periodically deploys ships and aircraft to contribute to efforts to enforce the sanctions against North Korea through Operation Argos.
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.
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.
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 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, 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 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.
These sanctions included:[7] 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.
[7] 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.
L. 114–122 (text) (PDF)) was passed which:[7] 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.
[38] 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.
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.
[40] 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.
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.
[42] 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.
[45] 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.
"[50] 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.
[53] 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 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.
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.
The report outlines the negative effects on irrigation and yield in food production due to restrictions in machinery, spare parts, fuels and fertilizers.
