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UNSC sanctions committee approves new measures against DPRK

The committee’s package of new measures constitutes a serious and credible response to North Korea’s provocation

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

UNITED NATIONS, May 3 (Itar-Tass) — The UN Security Council’s DPRK sanctions committee has introduced new measures against North Korea and tightened the regime of compliance with existing restrictions, it is said in a statement released on Wednesday by US Permanent Representative to the United Nations Susan E. Rice.

“The committee’s package of new measures constitutes a serious and credible response to North Korea’s provocation,” she said in the statement. “These measures will increase North Korea’s isolation and make it harder for Pyongyang to move forward with its illicit programs.” The newly blacklisted firms are “very significant North Korean entities” involved in Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, she said, in particular. Rice said the “committee’s strong and united response shows that the Security Council is determined that there be consequences for this provocation and any future North Korean violation.” UN sanctions committees work on the basis of consensus, which means any individual council member can block agreement.

According to earlier reports, the United States, European Union, South Korea and Japan submitted to the UN Security Council sanctions committee a list of about 40 North Korean companies against which the use of sanctions is possible, in connection with the recent launch of the Unha-3 rocket by North Korea. The decisions of the sanctions committee, which includes representatives of all 15 Security Council members, must be unanimous.

On April 16, the UN Security Council condemned the launch of the Unha-3 rocket carried out by North Korea three days earlier, calling it a “serious violation” of previous Council resolutions. In this connection, the Security Council demanded that the DPRK not carry out any further launches with the use of the ballistic missile technology, suspend all activities related to the ballistic missile program, to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs.

The UN Security Council has instructed its sanctions committee to adjust sanction measures against DPRK imposed by Resolutions 1718 and 1874, and to report on this within 15 days. In particular, the Council ordered to expand the “blacklist” of companies and organisations, as well as the assortment of products related to the North Korean nuclear and missile programs and update the existing information on them.

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