UN PRESS RELEASE: Security Council Imposes Fresh Sanctions on Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Including Bans on Natural Gas Sales, Work Authorization for Its Nationals
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 9/ 11/ 17 (link source)
Resolution 2375 (2017) Also Takes Humanitarian Situation into Account as Members Urge Resumed Talks on Denuclearizing Korean Peninsula
The Security Council, acting unanimously this evening, decided to impose a raft of new sanctions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea — including a ban on the sale of natural gas liquids to the North-East Asian nation, and on its textile exports — while also prohibiting Member States from providing work authorizations to its nationals.
By the terms of resolution 2375 (2017), the Council condemned in the strongest terms Pyongyang’s nuclear test of 2 September, saying that action stood “in flagrant disregard” of its resolutions, and reaffirmed that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea must immediately suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.
Among the new sanctions imposed today was a ban on the supply, sale or transfer of all condensates and natural gas liquids to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, as well as a ban on its exports of textiles such as fabrics and apparel products. The Council further decided that all Member States would prohibit the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of all refined petroleum products beyond 500,000 barrels during an initial period of three months — beginning on 1 October 2017 and ending on 31 December 2017 — and exceeding 2 million barrels per year during a period of 12 months beginning on 1 January 2018 and annually thereafter. In addition, Member States would not supply, sell or transfer crude oil to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in excess of the amount supplied, sold or transferred by that State in the 12-month period prior to the adoption of today’s resolution.
In addition, the Council decided to extend a number of existing sanctions, including the freezing of one additional individual’s assets, and both a travel ban and assets freeze to be imposed on three additional entities, both annexed to the text.
Expressing concern that nationals of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea frequently worked in other States for the purpose of generating foreign export earnings used to support Pyongyang’s prohibited nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, the Council also decided to prohibit Member States from providing authorizations for that country’s nationals to work in their jurisdictions unless specifically determined by the Committee established pursuant to Council resolution 1718 (2006).
The Council further called for the resumption of the Six-Party Talks — multilateral negotiations involving China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation and the United States — expressing its commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
Following the text’s adoption, Council members emphasized that its “robust” measures were commensurate with the serious and escalating nature of the threats posed by Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme. The representative of the United States, a co-sponsor of the resolution, said it built upon what were already the deepest-cutting sanctions ever levelled against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Recalling Pyongyang’s claims that it had tested a hydrogen bomb on 3 September, she warned: “We will act to stop it ourselves” if the regime did not end such activities. Half measures had failed, she said, adding that the Council had acted in a different way today by attempting to take the future of Pyongyang’s missile programme “out of the hands of its outlaw regime”.
Japan’s representative said today’s resolution would strengthen the sanctions imposed on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to an unprecedented level, with the ban on textile exports expected to reduce its revenues by $800 million and oil imports to be cut by approximately 30 per cent. Indeed, the text was “an urgent call for the regime to change its behaviour”, he said, emphasizing that the Council would not back off in the face of Pyongyang’s persistent provocations.
Several speakers highlighted the resolution’s support for a peaceful, negotiated diplomatic solution, noting that it left significant room for dialogue. In that regard, Senegal’s representative joined other speakers in urging the parties to return to the negotiating table, pointing out that the resolution contained critical provisions that could pave the way for a political settlement.
Echoing calls for a peaceful resolution, China’s representative cited the joint China-Russian Federation initiative announced on 4 July, saying it was as realistic as it was feasible. He expressed hope that the United States would not seek to change the Pyongyang regime, collapse it, pursue an accelerated reunification of the Korean Peninsula, or dispatch military forces north of the thirty-eighth parallel.
The Russian Federation’s representative said his country did not accept Pyongyang’s claim to nuclear-weapon status. However, the rejection by the resolution’s sponsors of the Secretary-General’s good offices, and their reluctance to reaffirm the “four nos” — concerning regime change, regime collapse, accelerated reunification and military deployment north of the thirty-eighth parallel — raised serious questions that remained unanswered. It would be a “big mistake” to underestimate the joint initiative of the Russian Federation and China, he said, insisting that it be taken into consideration.
The Republic of Korea’s representative said the swift and unanimous adoption of today’s resolution reflected both a sense of urgency as well as the gravity of the situation on the Korean Peninsula. The sanctions would substantially reduce the oil supply to the Democratic people’s Republic of Korea, which would also lose two of its largest sources of income — textile exports and overseas labourers. Emphasizing the importance of international unity on the matter, he said the goal was not to “bring [the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] to its knees, but to achieve a peaceful solution” to the nuclear issue.
Also speaking were representatives of France, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Uruguay, Italy, Sweden, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Bolivia and Ethiopia.
Secretary-General Welcomes ‘Firm’ Security Council Action in Response to Latest Nuclear Test by Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 9/ 11/ 17 (link source)
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:
The Secretary-General welcomes the adoption of a new Security Council resolution in response to the sixth nuclear test by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Maintaining unity in the Security Council is crucial in tackling security challenges on the Korean Peninsula and beyond.
This firm action by the Security Council sends a clear message that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea must comply fully with its international obligations. The Secretary-General urges the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to abide by the decisions of the Council and allow space for the resumption of dialogue, and calls upon all Member States to ensure the full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions.
The Secretary-General has taken note of the Security Council’s desire for a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation, as well as its urging of further work to reduce tensions. He reaffirms his commitment to working with all parties to this end and to strengthening communication channels.
US MISSION TO THE UN: Remarks Following the Adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2375 on North Korea Sanctions
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 9/ 11/ 17 (link source)
Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you for calling this meeting and allowing us to have this vote.
The images from space of northeast Asia at night show brightness and prosperity surrounding a dark, lonely space that is North Korea. Those images are a good illustration of where the North Korean regime is today. It is alone. It is dark. And it’s getting darker.
North Korea’s neighbors, its trading partners, and the entire international community are united against its dangerous and illegal actions. Today’s resolution builds on what were already the deepest cutting sanctions ever leveled against North Korea. We’ve been down this road before. The Security Council has expressed its condemnation. We’ve leveled sanctions. But today is different. We are acting in response to a dangerous new development: North Korea’s September 3 test of a claimed hydrogen bomb.
Today, we are saying the world will never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea. And today, the Security Council is saying that if the North Korean regime does not halt its nuclear program, we will act to stop it ourselves.
Over the years, we have learned many things about the North Korean regime. We have learned that it does not care about being a part of the community of decent, law-abiding nations. It has violated every United Nations resolution against it. We have learned that the North Korean regime doesn’t care about its own people. It has denied them the most basic necessities to finance its weapons program. And we have learned that half-measures against the regime have not worked.
Previous efforts to bring North Korea to the negotiating table have failed. They have repeatedly walked back every commitment they have made. Today, the Security Council has acted in a different way. Today, we are attempting to take the future of the North Korean nuclear program out of the hands of its outlaw regime.
We are done trying to prod the regime to do the right thing. We are now acting to stop it from having the ability to continue doing the wrong thing. We are doing that by hitting North Korea’s ability to fuel and fund its weapons program. Oil is the lifeblood of North Korea’s effort to build and deliver a nuclear weapon. Today’s resolution reduces almost 30 percent of oil provided to North Korea by cutting off over 55 percent of its gas, diesel, and heavy fuel oil. Further, today’s resolution completely bans natural gas and other oil byproducts that could be used as substitutes for the reduced petroleum. This will cut deep.
Further, a large portion of North Korea’s revenues come from exports, revenues they use to fund their nuclear program. Last month, we passed a resolution banning its coal and iron exports. Today’s resolution bans all textile exports. That’s an almost $800 million hit to its revenue.
When these new stronger sanctions are added to those passed last month, over 90 percent of North Korea’s publicly reported exports are now fully banned. Moreover, this resolution also puts an end to the regime making money from the 93,000 North Korean citizens it sends overseas to work and heavily taxes. This ban will eventually starve the regime of an additional $500 million or more in annual revenues. Beyond the $1.3 billion in annual revenues we will cut from North Korea, new maritime authorities will help us stop them from obtaining funds by smuggling coal and other prohibited materials around the world by ship.
Furthermore, this resolution prohibits all joint ventures with the regime, resulting in a significant amount of lost revenue. But more importantly, the regime can no longer obtain critically needed foreign investments, technology, and know-how needed for its commercial industries.
Finally, this resolution imposes asset freezes on the most central North Korean regime entities, affecting both the military and the government itself. In short, these are by far the strongest measures ever imposed on North Korea. They give us a much better chance to halt the regime’s ability to fuel and finance its nuclear and missile programs.
But we all know these steps only work if all nations implement them completely and aggressively. Today’s resolution would not have happened without the strong relationship that has developed between President Trump and Chinese President Xi, and we greatly appreciate both teams working with us. We have seen additional encouraging signs that other nations in Asia have stepped up to the plate. The Philippines has cut off all trade with Pyongyang. Thailand has drastically cut its economic ties with North Korea. And states much further away are also doing their part. Mexico recently declared the North Korean ambassador to its country persona non grata. Along with strictly enforcing sanctions, these are important steps toward complete international unity. They make clear that all nations can act to deny North Korea the funds to build its nuclear arsenal.
Today is a solemn day in the United States. It is the 16th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed nearly three thousand innocent people – most of them in this very city. It hurts as much today as it did 16 years ago. We will never forget the victims of September 11. And we will never forget the lesson that those who have evil intentions must be confronted.
That day, the United States saw that mass murder can come from a clear blue sky, on a beautiful Tuesday morning. But today, the threat to the United States and the world is not coming out of the blue.
The North Korean regime has demonstrated that it will not act on its own to end its nuclear program. The civilized world must do what the regime refuses to do. We must stop its march toward a nuclear arsenal with the ability to deliver it anywhere in the world. We must do that by cutting off the fuel and the funding that supports it.
We don’t take pleasure in further strengthening sanctions today. We are not looking for war. The North Korean regime has not yet passed the point of no return. If it agrees to stop its nuclear program, it can reclaim its future. If it proves it can live in peace, the world will live in peace with it.
On the other hand, if North Korea continues its dangerous path, we will continue with further pressure.
The choice is theirs. Thank you.
US MISSION TO THE UN: FACT SHEET: Resolution 2375 (2017) Strengthening Sanctions on North Korea
RELEASE ISSUED 9/ 11/ 17 (link source)
Resolution 2375 (2017), adopted unanimously by the United Nations Security Council on September 11, 2017, strengthens UN sanctions on North Korea in response to the North Korea nuclear test conducted on September 2, 2017. As such, this resolution sends a very clear message to North Korea that the Security Council is united in condemning North Korea’s violations and demanding North Korea give up its prohibited nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Resolution 2375 (2017) includes the strongest sanctions ever imposed on North Korea. These measures target North Korea’s last remaining major exports by fully banning the export of textiles (nearly $800 million each year) and preventing overseas workers from earning wages that finance the North Korean regime (over $500 million each year), reduces about 30% of oil provided to North Korea by cutting off over 55% of refined petroleum products going to North Korea, and fully bans all joint ventures with North Korea to cut off foreign investments, technology transfers, and other economic cooperation with North Korea. The resolution also includes strong maritime provisions enabling countries to counter North Korean smuggling activities of prohibited exports by sea.
Resolution 2375 (2017) includes the following key elements:
Oil/Petroleum
This resolution reduces about 30% of oil provided to North Korea by cutting off over 55% of refined petroleum products going to North Korea.
It will achieve this through imposing an annual cap of 2 million barrels per year of all refined petroleum products (gasoline, diesel, heavy fuel oil, etc.)
North Korea currently receives a total of about 8.5 million barrels of oil/petroleum: 4.5 million in refined form and 4 million in crude form.
The resolution freezes the current amount of crude oil provided to North Korea by banning countries from providing additional crude oil beyond what China provides through the Dandong-Sinuiju pipeline.
The resolution also bans the supply to North Korea of all natural gas and condensates -- this will prevent North Korea from obtaining substitutes for refined petroleum products.
Textiles
The resolution bans all North Korean textile exports.
Textile exports – North Korea’s largest economic sector that the Security Council had not previously restricted – earned North Korea an average of $760 million in the past three years.
Combined with the previous Security Council resolutions, over 90% of North Korea’s publicly reported 2016 exports of $2.7 billion are now banned (coal, textiles, iron, seafood), which does not include revenues from overseas workers.
Overseas Laborers
This provision we adopt today will eventually deny the regime another half billion dollars each year it takes from the nearly 100,000 North Korean citizens working around the world to earn wages.
In order to minimize business disruptions to existing contracts and work authorizations involving North Korean overseas workers, this provision allows existing authorizations to reach their original expiration dates but does not authorize any renewals.
Interdiction
The resolution provides member states new tools to stop high seas smuggling of prohibited products (e.g., conventional arms, coal, textiles, seafood, etc.). North Korea has been smuggling coal and iron ore to other countries using very sophisticated evasion techniques by sea.
If flag states refuse to allow inspections of suspicious vessels, then the flag state is required to redirect the vessels to a port for inspection.
If a flag state or vessel does not cooperate with inspections, then the vessel can be designated for an asset freeze, denied port access, de-registered, and suffer other penalties.
Joint Ventures
The resolution requires the end of all joint ventures with North Korea. This will not only starve the regime of any revenues generated through such arrangements, it will now stop all future foreign investments and technology transfers to help North Korea’s nascent and weak commercial industries.
However, to protect civilian needs of the North Korean people and continue facilitating international commerce involving the North Korean port of Rajin, the China-DPRK hydroelectric power stations on the Yalu River and the Russia-DPRK Khasan-Rajin rail and port project to transshipment of Russian coal to other markets are exempted.
Designations
The resolution imposes asset freezes on the most important North Korean regime organs: Organizational Guidance Department, Central Military Commission, and Propaganda and Agitation Department that run the DPRK government, military, and keep its people down.
The resolution facilitates the listing of additional dual-use items and technology that could be used for WMD or conventional arms-related purposes that will be banned for transfer to and from North Korea.
The resolution also facilitates a process to identify vessels caught smuggling prohibited North Korean goods to other countries.
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