The United Nations Security Council provided new sanctions against DPRK

In the resolution, which was sponsored by the United States, the 15-member body condemned “in the strongest terms” the nuclear test conducted by the DPRK on 6 January, noting that it was “in violation and flagrant disregard” of the Council's prior resolutions. It further condemned the country's launch of 7 February, which used ballistic missile technology and was a “serious violation.”

Ban List

As a result of such incidents, the new measure expands sanctions against the DPRK by imposing a ban on all exports including coal, iron, iron ore, gold, titanium ore, vanadium ore and rare earth metals, and banning the supply of all types of aviation fuel, including rocket fuel.

The new resolution also requires States to inspect all cargo to and from the DPRK, not just those suspected of containing prohibited items, as was previously the case. It also bans leasing or chartering of vessels or airplanes and providing crew services to the country, and registering vessels, while calling on States to de-register any DPRK owned or controlled vessels. Additionally, it decides that States shall ban any flights and deny entry into their ports of any vessel suspected of carrying prohibited items.

Regarding financial sanctions, the resolution broadens their scope by imposing an asset freeze on all funds and other economic resources owned or controlled by the DPRK government or by the Worker's Party of Korea, if found to be associated with its nuclear or ballistic missile programme or any other prohibited activities.

An additional 13 individuals are designated in the resolution as subject to the travel ban and asset freeze, including several representatives of the Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation and the Tanchon Commercial Bank. It designates 12 new entities as subject to the asset freeze, including the Ministry of Atomic Energy and the Reconnaissance Energy Bureau, described as the DPRK's premiere intelligence organization.

China' Position

The new sanctions affect the most China-DPRK relations. Now Beijing is obliged to stop the supply of raw materials and goods that previously for many years were imported into North Korea from China.

Russia' Position

According to the Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Vitaly Churkin stricter measures will not prevent the construction of the railway from Russia to the North Korean port of Rajin. Although the main negotiations for the adoption of sanctions conducted between China and the United States, the Russian side has held further consultations with the US delegation and made to preserve their economic interests in North Korea. The official Russian position is that new sanctions will help to return Pyongyang to the negotiating table in the format of "six" on the issue of nuclear disarmament, and Moscow can play a leading role for it.

Pyongyang' Answer

North Korea, in turn, made this morning the launch of six short-range missiles toward the Sea of Japan. Since the launch was made a few hours after the UN Security Council imposed new sanctions against Pyongyang, Seoul said that "in this way the North is demonstrating its displeasure actions of the world community."

DPRK
UN Security Council
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