A number of countries and international bodies have imposed sanctions against North Korea, mostly due to North Korea's nuclear weapons program. The country conducted its first nuclear test in 2006. North Korea has faced multiple sanctions from many countries and international organizations, including the United States, European Union, United Nations, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Norway, India, Israel, South Korea, Japan and others, making it the most sanctioned country in the world before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The United States first imposed sanctions on North Korea in the 1950s and tightened them further after international bombings against South Korea by North Korean agents during the 1980s, including the Rangoon bombing and the bombing of Korean Air Flight 858 in 1987. In 1988, the United States added North Korea to its list of state sponsors of terrorism. Sanctions against North Korea started to ease during the 1990s when South Korea's then-liberal government pushed for engagement policies with the North. The Clinton administration signed the Agreed Framework with North Korea in October 1994. However, the relaxation was short-lived; North Korea continued its nuclear program and officially withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty on 10 January 2003, causing countries to reinstate various sanctions. UN Security Council resolutions were passed after North Korea conducted nuclear tests in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016, and 2017. Initially, sanctions were focused on trade bans on weapon-related materials and goods, but expanded to luxury goods to target the elite. Further sanctions expanded to cover financial assets, banking transactions, and general travel and trade.
To evade sanctions, North Korea has engaged in illicit activities abroad.
Supranational bodies European Union The European Union imposed a series of sanctions against North Korea in 2006.
These sanctions were applied in various sectors:
1. Trade in various goods: Ban on arms exports to DPRK; Ban on exports of dual-use goods and goods which could be used in nuclear enrichment-related and nuclear testing activities; Ban on imports of crude oil, natural gas, petrochemical and petroleum products; Ban on the sale or supply of key equipment used in the energy sector; Ban on the sale or supply of gold, other precious metals and diamonds; Ban on certain naval equipment; Ban on certain software.
2. Financial sector: Freezing the assets of the Central Bank of DPRK and major North Korean commercial banks; Laying down notification and authorization mechanisms for transfers of funds above certain amounts to North Korean financial institutions. 3. Transport sector: Preventing access to EU airports for North Korean cargo flights; Ban on maintenance and service of North Korean cargo aircraft or vessels carrying prohibited materials or goods; Travel restrictions and asset freeze imposed against additional listed persons and entities.
4. Measures to combat internal repression: It is prohibited to sell, supply, transfer or export the following, whether or not it originates in the EU, to any person or body in North Korea or for use in North Korea: equipment which might be used for internal repression as listed in Annex III; equipment, technology or software identified in Annex IV, without prior authorisation from the relevant EU country. It is prohibited to provide technical assistance, brokering services and financing to any person or body in North Korea or for use in North Korea if the services are related to equipment which might be used for internal repression as listed in Annex III. It is prohibited to provide any telecommunication or internet monitoring or interception services to Iran's government, public bodies, corporations and agencies or to any person or entity acting on their behalf.
The Regulation (EU) No 359/2007 outlines: A freeze on funds and economic resources belonging to, owned or held by individuals or bodies listed in Annex I; A ban on funds or economic resources being made available to individuals, entities or bodies listed in Annex I; A ban on intentional activities to circumvent the above measures. Annex I is a list of persons who, in accordance with Decision 2011/235/CFSP, have been identified by the Council as being individuals responsible for serious human rights violations in North Korea, and those associated with them. EU countries may exceptionally authorise the release of frozen funds or economic resources, including for basic expenses such as food, medicines and utilities, and reasonable professional fees.
On 21 September 2017, EU banned oil exports and investments in North Korea.
United Nations Security Council
The UN Security Council has passed a number of resolutions since North Korea's first nuclear test in 2006.
Resolution 1718, passed in 2006, demanded that North Korea cease nuclear testing and prohibited the export of some military supplies and luxury goods to North Korea. The resolution banned the DPRK from participating in any activities related to ballistic missiles, tightened the arms embargo and travel bans on individuals involved with the program, froze the funds and assets of the Korea Mining Development Trade Corporation and DPRK shipping lines, and recommended that states inspect North Korean cargo, prohibit the servicing of North Korean vessels involved in prohibited activities, prevent the provision of financial services used for sensitive nuclear activities, closely watch North Korean individuals and entities when dealing with them, prohibit the opening of North Korean banks on their territory, and prevent the DPRK's banks from entering into a relationship with their banks if it might contribute to their nuclear weapons and WMD program, and prevent financial institutions operating in their territory from opening offices and accounts in the DPRK. The UN Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea was established, supported from 2009 to 2024 by a panel of experts. Resolution 1874, passed after the second nuclear test in 2009, broadened the arms embargo. Member states were encouraged to inspect ships and destroy any cargo suspected of being related to the nuclear weapons program. Resolution 2087, passed in January 2013 after a satellite launch, strengthened previous sanctions by clarifying a state's right to seize and destroy cargo suspected of heading to or from North Korea for purposes of military research and development. Resolution 2094, passed in March 2013 after the third nuclear test, imposed sanctions on money transfers and aimed to shut North Korea out of the international financial system. Resolution 2270, passed in March 2016 after the fourth nuclear test, further strengthened existing sanctions. It banned the export of gold, vanadium, titanium, and rare earth metals. The export of coal and iron were also banned, with an exemption for transactions purely for "livelihood purposes." Resolution 2321, passed in November 2016, capped North Korea's coal exports and banned exports of copper, nickel, zinc, and silver. In February 2017, a UN panel said that 116 of 193 member states had not yet submitted a report on their implementation of these sanctions, though China had. Resolution 2371, passed in August 2017, banned all exports of coal, iron, lead, and seafood. The resolution also imposed new restrictions on North Korea's Foreign Trade Bank and prohibited any increase in the number of North Koreans working in foreign countries. Resolution 2375, passed on 11 September 2017, limited North Korean crude oil and refined petroleum product imports; banned joint ventures, textile exports, natural-gas condensate and liquid imports; and banned North Korean nationals from working abroad in other countries. Resolution 2397, passed on 22 December 2017 after the launch of a Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile, limited North Korean refined petroleum product imports to 500,000 barrels per year and crude oil imports to current levels; it also banned exports of food, machinery, earth and stones, wood, vessels and electrical equipment. The resolution further prohibited imports of industrial equipment, machinery, transportation vehicles, and industrial metals, and called for the repatriation of all North Korean nationals earning income abroad within 24 months. The resolution also authorized member states to seize and inspect any vessel in their territorial waters found to be illicitly providing oil to or smuggling coal or other prohibited products from the DPRK.
United Nations agencies are restricted in the aid they can provide North Korea due to the sanctions, but remain able to help with nutrition, health, water, and sanitation.
States Australia Australia has imposed a series of sanctions against North Korea since October 2006. The Australian Defence Force periodically deploys ships and aircraft to contribute to efforts to enforce the sanctions against North Korea through Operation Argos, which:
Prohibits the opening in Australia of new branches, subsidiaries or representative offices of North Korean banks. Prohibits North Korean banks from establishing new joint ventures, or taking an ownership interest in or establishing or maintaining correspondent relationships with Australian banks. Prohibits Australian financial institutions from opening representative offices or subsidiaries or banking accounts in North Korea. Applies enhanced monitoring to prevent all such transactions.
Canada In 2006, the Canadian government imposed the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA), which calls for an import/export ban as well as a financial services ban on North Korea.
China In February 2017, China banned all imports of coal from North Korea for the rest of the year. China also banned exports of some petroleum products and imports of textiles from North Korea in line with United Nations resolutions.
Japan In 2006, Japan imposed sanctions against North Korea, including:
A ban on investing in oil and gas from North Korea. A ban on supplying chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons technology, goods, or materials to North Korea. The inspection of cargo from North Korea in Japanese ports. A ban on North Korean airplanes flying to Japan if they are involved in WMD and nuclear weapons activities. The freezing of assets of 15 North Korean banks, termination of all existing correspondent banking relationships with those banks. A ban on any new correspondent accounts or relationships with any North Korean bank. A ban on funds transfers between Japan and North Korea related to North Korea's activities pertaining to the supply of large conventional weapons, with financial institutions being obliged to scrutinize transactions accordingly and report monthly on all North Korea-related transfers. A ban on Japanese companies providing insurance or reinsurance services to North Korea, if the activities covered could contribute to North Korea's nuclear activities or supply of large conventional weapons. A ban on Japanese financial institutions opening branches or subsidiaries in North Korea, and vice versa. The Government of Japan's cessation of all new oil and gas-related investment in North Korea by refraining from entering into new medium to long-term commitments for export credit for trade with North Korea. The establishment of a financial authorization system for all transactions between Japan and North Korea. A ban on the transfer of proliferation sensitive dual-use items to North Korea, and on any new investments. A ban on the sale of goods, services, and technology to North Korea's energy sector. Russia