UNITED NATIONS – A UN resolution unanimously adopted Wednesday, March 2, ratchets up sanctions on North Korea, with a raft of new measures that are the toughest yet to hit the reclusive country.
Here are the key points of the resolution:
ARMS EMBARGO TIGHTENED
- Prevents sales of small arms, transfers of any item except food and medicine that could be used by the armed forces, for example trucks.
- Bans military and police cooperation, shutting down North Korea's training programs abroad, in particular in Africa. These were considered a source of hard currency.
SANCTIONS BLACKLIST
- Adds 16 individuals and 12 entities to the sanctions blacklist, including North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) for its involvement in satellite launches and carrier rockets, the Ministry of Atomic Energy Industry and North Korea's intelligence agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau.
EXPELLING DIPLOMATS
- Requires states to expel North Korean diplomats or any foreign national engaged in illicit activities for Pyongyang.
CARGO INSPECTIONS/BAN ON PORT CALLS
- equires states to inspect all cargo to and from North Korea, in airports, seaports and free trade zones.
- States will bar the leasing or chartering of flagged vessels or aircraft to North Korea. Exemptions to this can apply with UN approval.
- Bans flights of any plane suspected of carrying contraband to North Korea.
- Bars any vessel suspected of carrying illicit goods for North Korea from port calls.
- Lists 31 vessels operated by the sanctions-hit North Korean shipping company Ocean Maritime Management (OMM). The designation includes their International Maritime Organization number to ensure they cannot be renamed or reflagged.
EXPORT BAN
- Bans exports of coal, iron and iron ore from North Korea, except if used for "livelihood purposes" in North Korea and not related to Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile program. Coal originating from outside North Korea and transported for export from the port of Rason can also be excluded with UN approval.
- Bans exports of gold, titanium ore, vanadium ore and rare earth minerals.
- Bans exports of aviation fuel including rocket fuel, except for passenger planes traveling to and from North Korea and for humanitarian use, with UN approval.
FINANCIAL/BANKING SANCTIONS
- Extends an asset freeze to all funds held abroad by the government, the Workers' Party of Korea, the Daedong credit bank and Korea Kwangson banking corporation.
- States shall bar the opening and operation of new branches, subsidiaries and offices of North Korean banks.
- Orders states to shut down North Korean banks within 90 days if there is credible information that the financial services contribute to North Korea's nuclear or ballistic program.
BAN ON LUXURY GOODS
- Adds to the list of banned items luxury watches, recreational watercrafts such as Sea-Doos, snowmobiles valued at more than $2,000, items of lead crystal and recreational sports equipment.
– Rappler.com