On 26 February 2018, the European Union has finalised the transposition of the UN Security Council’s Resolution 2397(2017), tightening up the restrictive measures against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as a response of DPRK’s nuclear and missile programmes. The DPRK’s nuclear activity is seen as a threat to international security and peace. These restrictive measures include:

• the strengthening of the export ban to the DPRK of all refined petroleum products, through a reduction of the amount of barrels that may be exported from 2 million to 500.000 barrels per year;

• a prohibition on the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to the DPRK, of all industrial machinery, transportation, and iron, steel, and other metals;

• a prohibition imposed to the DPRK on the supply, sale or transfer, directly or indirectly, from its territory or by its nationals or using its flag vessels or aircraft, of food and agricultural, machinery, electrical equipment, earth and stone and wood;

• further restrictive measures in the maritime sector against vessels, if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been used for the violation of UN sanctions;

• the repatriation, within 24 months, of all workers of DPRK currently working in foreign countries, in conformity with national and international law.

Besides implementing the UN Security Council resolutions adopted in response to the DPRK’s nuclear programmes and nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes, the European Union has also imposed autonomous restrictive measures against the DPRK.

Sara Capruzzi