On 15 September 2017, the Regulation (EU) 2017/1548 and the Decision (CFSP) 2017/1562 have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. With these legal acts, the Council of the European Union further strengthened its restrictive measures against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), transposing the sectoral sanctions imposed by UN Security Council Resolution 2371 (2017), adopted on 5 August 2017.

The measures introduced by UNSC Resolution 2371 (2017) target the DPRK’s main exports, imposing a total ban on all exports of coal, lead, lead ore, iron ore and seafood. Additional sanctions target the Country’s ability to generate revenue and to access the international financial system, its arms smuggling and its joint ventures with foreign companies. Furthermore, EU Member States will not allow any more North Korean nationals to work on their territories as they are suspected of generating revenue which is used to support the Country’s ballistic missile and illegal nuclear programmes. Member States will also prohibit the expansion of existing joint ventures through additional investments with any entities and individuals from the DPRK, as well as the opening of new joint ventures and cooperative entities.

The Resolution 2371 (2017) was adopted in response to some activities in violation and flagrant disregard of previous UN Security Council resolutions. These activities concern nuclear weapon and ballistic missile-development in the DPRK.

On 10 August 2017 the Council already transposed the additional listings imposed by the UN Security Council Resolution, adding 9 persons and 4 entities that support these illicit programs to the lists of those subject to an asset freeze and travel restrictions. Moreover, the Council will also transpose the additional sanctions included in the latest UN Security Council Resolution (2375 of 11 September 2017) which includes the strengthening of some of the measures introduced by UNSCR 2371, for instance on North Korean workers.

Sara Capruzzi