UN imposes sanctions on North Korea

By Keerthana Chavaly

On Monday, 11^th September 2017, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a draft resolution to impose sanctions on North Korea – the harshest sanctions yet. The bill, which was originally drafted by the US, was passed in efforts to discourage, and hopefully prevent, the North Korean regime’s aggressive weapons program.

A reaction to North Korea’s actions

A week after the sixth and largest nuclear test by North Korea, allegedly a hydrogen bomb test which is undoubtedly the most destructive one so far, the sanctions were passed and adopted. The sanctions put a cap on oil exports to North Korea, its chief source of fuel for weapons, ban textile exports as well as preventing workers overseas from earning wages that help finance the regime, stop foreign investments, transfers of and other forms of economic cooperation.

These harsh measures are a diluted version of the original sanctions suggested by the US which included freezing the assets of Kim Jong-Unn, the Worker’s Party and the Government of North Korea, as well as a complete ban on oil exports to North Korea. These measures were made slightly tamer in order to gain the support of Russia and China, countries that have friendly relations with Pyongyang, especially since these nations have veto power in the UN Security Council. The two nations initially expressed scepticism, but have now pledged support for the resolution.

Neighbours unite against the threat

Meanwhile, certain countries in Asia have welcomed the strict measures against Pyongyang. South Korea expressed support and also mentioned that if peace and cooperation were to ever be achieved, North Korea should be open to diplomatic talks. The President of Japan, Shinzo Abe said that the sanctions impose ‘an unprecedented high level of pressure on North Korea’. He further stated, “It is up to the international community to see that these resolutions are implemented”. The Chinese ambassador said to the UN that ‘China is consistently committed to the de-nuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, to the peace and stability of the peninsula and to the solution of the issue through dialogue and consultation’. The support of China comes in spite of the fact that China initially expressed humanitarian concern over the proposed sanctions. Further, Chinese banks have stopped providing financial services to North Korean clients amid rising concerns that China was not doing enough to apply pressure on Pyongyang.

DPRK’s opinion

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s responded to the sanctions by stating, “The DPRK will redouble efforts to increase its strength to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and right to existence and to preserve peace and security of the region by establishing the practical equilibrium with the US”. The statement also said that the measures were “completely suffocating its state and people through full-scale economic blockade.”

The US government, under President Donald Trump, were mulling over applying sanctions to certain Chinese banks as they are thought to be diverting funds to North Korea. This development, which came into effect on 28 August 2017, puts the already isolated state in a worse situation.

Featured Image Source: Visual Hunt