Brussels, 01/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - From 1 April 2016 the EU is imposing new sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in connection with its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. The sanctions are a transposition of the measures contained in United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2270, which was adopted on 2 March 2016 following a nuclear test and the firing of long-range missiles on 6 January and 7 February (see EUROPE 11504).
These measures extend export and import prohibitions to any item (except food or medicine) which could contribute to the development of the operational capabilities of the DPRK's armed forces. The EU member states are now required to inspect all cargoes to and from the DPRK, to ban DPRK chartering of vessels or aircraft, and to de-register vessels. Flights carrying banned articles and port calls of vessels engaged in violation of the relevant UNSC resolutions are also prohibited. It is also prohibited to import certain mineral products from the DPRK (including coal, iron and gold) or to export aviation fuel to the DPRK. The EU member states must expel DPRK representatives and third country nationals involved in the DPRK's illicit programmes as defined by the relevant UNSC resolutions.
In addition, further financial measures have been decided upon, including measures on branches, subsidiaries or representative offices of DPRK banks, which are required to close. Government bodies linked to the DPRK's nuclear or ballistic missile programmes or other actitivities banned by the UNSC resolutions will have their assets frozen. It is also forbiddent to bring private financial support to trade if this support could contribute to the DPRK's illicit programmes.
On 5 March, the Council transposed an initial series of measures linked to Resolution 2270 banning visas and freezing the assets of 16 people and 12 entities (see EUROPE 11505). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)