On Thursday 8 June, the EU Council added 14 people and 4 entities to its list of sanctions on North Korea.
This involves transposing new lists imposed by UN Security Council resolution 2356 (2017) – a resolution adopted on 2 June 2017 in response to North Korea's ongoing nuclear-weapon and ballistic missile-development activities. The decision was adopted by written procedure and was published in the EU Official Journal on 9 June.
The sanctions – an assets freeze and visa ban – concern members of bodies that are linked to the regime, the Strategic Ballistic Force of the Korean People's Army, the Kangbong Trading Corporation under the guardianship of the Ministry of People's Armed Forces, the Korea Kumsan Trading Corporation, detained or controlled by the General Bureau of Atomic Energy, and Koryo Bank which is linked to Korea's Workers' Party.
The Council decision brings the total number of persons under restrictive measures against North Korea to 53 people and 46 entities as listed by the UN. In addition, 41 people and 7 entities are designated by the EU autonomously.
By coincidence, according to South Korea, North Korea reportedly went ahead with a series of missile firing, possibly of anti-ship missiles, on 8 June. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)