Brussels (Brussels Morning) – The European Council sanctioned six individuals and three entities for aiding North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs and supporting Russia’s war on Ukraine, imposing asset freezes and travel bans to prevent funding.
The European Council sanctioned an additional six individuals and three entities in view of sanctions evasion moves carried out by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) that could render funds for its illicit nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, in breach of and with flagrant apathy for the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and given the military backing given by the DPRK to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
European Council states that those targeted will be entitled to an asset freeze and the condition of funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, to or for the advantage of those listed is restricted. Additionally, a travel embargo to the European Union will apply to the listed individuals.
Why did the EU impose new sanctions on North Korea?
According to the EU Council, The EU is committed to preventing the flow of components, finance and facts that could be used by the DPRK to fund the development of its nuclear, WMD and ballistic missile agendas. The EU urges the DPRK to discontinue destabilising actions, concede its obligations under international law and restart dialogue with relevant parties.
The Council decision obtains the total number of persons listed autonomously by the EU to 77 individuals and 20 entities. This reaches in addition to all relevant UN Security Council resolves on sanctions related to DPRK’s illegal programmes into EU legislation, which the EU has also transposed. From 1 January 2024 until 30 May 2024, the DPRK undertook at least 22 ballistic missiles.
How does the EU respond to North Korea’s missile programs?
The EU has repeatedly criticised the DPRK for such activities and called on Pyongyang to stop these illegal and dangerous launches, which blatantly disregard UN Security Council resolutions and damage international peace and security as well as the global non-proliferation regime.
Furthermore, the European Council denounced the continued military support for Russia’s war of aggression delivered by the DPRK, Belarus and Iran in its decisions of 15 December 2023, and called for preparing additional sanctions against them in its conclusions of 22 March 2024.
The first bunch of restrictive measures was presented following UN Security Council Resolution 1718 (2006), assumed shortly after DPRK´s first nuclear test on 9 October 2006. The UN Security Council has continually adopted new measures and extended existing ones since then. In 2016, the Council of the EU assumed additional, autonomous restrictive actions against the DPRK, completing the UN sanctions, on the grounds that the DPRK’s actions form a grave threat to international peace and security in the region and beyond.
