Sanctions against North Korea
Background to the sanctions
The basis for the sanctions against North Korea is that, in contravention of international agreements, the country has developed nuclear weapons and conducted nuclear tests.
In the last 20 years, North Korea´s relations with the international community in the nuclear field have fluctuated between a willingness to cooperate and a display of aloofness on the part of North Korea. In August 2003, six-party talks were initiated aimed at resolving the complicated situation that had arisen after North Korea refused to continue cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In addition to North and South Korea, this forum includes China, the United States, Japan and Russia. The 2005 round of negotiations concluded with a joint statement on 19 September, which established the goal of a nuclear-free Korean peninsula. North Korea pledged to abstain from all nuclear weapons and ongoing nuclear programmes, to return to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and resume cooperation with the IAEA.
However, in July 2006, North Korea tested a long-range missile and six medium and short range missiles. The UN Security Council then adopted Resolution 1695, and a blockade was announced concerning the supply of funds and military equipment that could contribute to North Korea developing weapons of mass destruction. In October 2006, North Korea announced that for the first time, it had tested a nuclear explosive device, a claim confirmed by international verification measures. The action was condemned, and the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1718 with even more far-reaching sanctions against North Korea. The sanctions have been jointly implemented by EU Member States.
After pressure by the Chinese, North Korea returned to the suspended six-party talks in December 2006. Bilateral meetings with the US were also held alongside the talks. On 13 February 2007, an agreement was reached on measures to implement the joint statement from September 2005. The agreement involves a timetable for reporting on and dismantling North Koreas nuclear programme in exchange for pledges on cooperation and aid from the other countries. This was followed by over one year of positive developments, but then the process again reached a standstill.
In April 2009, North Korea launched a ballistic missile, which was strongly criticised by countries around the world and by the Security Council. North Korea claimed that it had launched a satellite. As a result of the controversy caused by the launch, North Korea left the six-party talks. In May, North Korea announced that it had conducted a new nuclear test. The test was condemned by the Security Council and led to Resolution1874 on broader sanctions against North Korea. The EU´s decision on implementing the sanctions means that, to a certain extent, they have been broadened. Examples of this are a significant increase in the number of products prohibited from being exported to North Korea, and the EU having independently taken decisions on listing people and entities subject to freezing of assets in addition to those decided by the UN.
