UNSC imposed sanctions against North Korea

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on 2 March 2016 unanimously adopted a resolution to impose new sanctions and tighten some of its existing measures against the North Korea.

It was in response to the January 6 nuclear test and February 7 rocket launch that threatened International Peace and Security.

The new sanctions were imposed following seven weeks of arduous negotiations between the United States and China, Pyongyang's sole major ally.

New Sanctions under the resolution

• The sanctions break new ground requiring all countries to inspect cargo destined for and coming from North Korea in all airports and sea ports.

• They also ban or restrict exports of coal, iron and iron ore and other minerals from North Korea (DPRK), and prohibit the supply of aviation fuel including rocket fuel. North Korea earns about 1 billion US dollars per year in coal exports that is a third of all export revenues and about 200 million dollars annually from iron ore sales.

• Restrictions in the Banking sector will be tightened and governments will ban flights of any plane suspected of carrying contraband destined for North Korea.

•A total of 16 individuals and 12 entities were added to a UN sanctions blacklist, including North Korea's NADA space agency and its spy agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau.

• UN member states will expel North Korean diplomats engaged in smuggling or other illegal activities.

• Luxury watches, snowmobiles, recreational watercraft such as Sea-Doos and sports equipment are banned from sale to North Korea, in sanctions targeting Pyongyang's elites.

• Besides, The US Treasury Department separately announced sanctions against two entities and 10 individuals with ties to North Korea's weapons programs.

• The sanctions resolution did not target oil deliveries to North Korea and allows for exemptions to some export bans if a government can show that the revenue will not be used to develop North Korea's military programs.

The latest sanctions are the fifth set of UN sanctions against North Korea since it first tested an atomic device in 2006.

The resolution sends a clear message that North Korea must return to full compliance with its international obligations and it to abide by the resolution and called upon all UN Member States to ensure its implementation.

However, North Korea responded with a defiant display of military strength, launching a series of short-range projectiles into the sea off its east coast just hours after the resolution was adopted.

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