UN working to elevate sanctions on North Korea

Posted on : 2013-02-14 14:56 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
South Korea-led Security Council considering compulsory measures to further isolate North Korea economically
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By Park Hyun, Washington correspondent in New York

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is taking steps to adopt a new resolution that would elevate existing sanctions against North Korea from recommendations to requirements. In addition, South Korea and the US are planning to impose independent, supplementary sanctions after waiting for the UNSC’s decision, the Hankyoreh confirmed.

After presiding over a meeting of the UNSC on Feb. 12 (EST), Kim Sung-hwan, South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, issued a UNSC press release based on his authority as acting president of the UNSC. The statement said, “In line with what was specified in resolution 2087 and the gravity of this violation by North Korea, the members of the Security Council will begin work immediately on appropriate measures in a Security Council resolution.” In a subsequent briefing with South Korean correspondents, Kim said, “In today’s UNSC meeting, we resolved that the sanctions against North Korea will take the form of a resolution.”

This resolution is expected to seek an upgrade in the effectiveness of the sanctions included in Resolution 2087. While the current resolution enables UN member states to conduct maritime searches or to restrict financial transactions with foreign countries in order to prevent North Korea from trafficking in weapons of mass destruction or luxury goods, for the most part the resolution does not go beyond urging states to follow through with these actions. “Resolution 2087 did not contain any provisions that were binding on member states,” Kim said. “This time, we intend to craft a resolution that will be mandatory for all member states to participate in.”

Even if the resolution is made compulsory, there will still be no punitive provisions for member states that do not abide by the resolution. However, if the resolution becomes compulsory, the UNSC Sanctions Committee will be able to monitor whether or not member states are adhering to it. Since the Committee can urge member states who are not following the resolution to implement its provisions, it will put pressure on member states.

There was no immediate indication of what China’s attitude was during the Feb. 12 meeting. Nevertheless, the fact that the meeting lasted an hour longer than its scheduled length of one hour suggests that the Chinese delegate expressed considerable opposition. “China also feels that some kind of action is necessary,” Kim said. “However, because of China’s special relationship with North Korea, I suspect China’s leaders are probably concerned about how to harmonize this with that relationship.”

South Korea and the US are currently considering the imposition of independent sanctions on North Korea after the UNSC makes its decision about the sanctions. “We are trying to finalize discussions about UNSC sanctions before the end of this month, while South Korea holds the rotating UNSC presidency,” Kim said. However, when asked about the details of the sanctions, he declined to comment, only saying, “At this stage, it is too early to say.”

 

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

 

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