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Over the years, global powers have consistently agreed that a nuclear-equipped North Korean military would pose a serious threat to world peace. To prevent the isolated nation from fulfilling its nuclear ambitions an alliance of Western powers has teamed up to cripple the country with economic sanctions. Despite these efforts, Pyongyang has proceeded with tests and shown almost no interest in disarmament talks.
In wake of last year’s successful missile tests, the growing danger to North Korea’s neighbors and the United States has led to a severe escalation of financial sanctions to isolate the Kim regime further. These tactics have exacted a heavy toll for sure, but experts are unclear on the true long-term cost these steps will have on the North Korean government’s ability to procure resources necessary to accomplish its goals. Furthermore, the lack of enforcement and the apparent willingness of many countries to circumvent the sanctions undermine their effectiveness. One such ally, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, is the equally hostile country of Iran, which has faced similar roadblocks on its mission to procure nuclear weapons. The connection between Iran and North Korea is so great that Mark Dubowitz of FDD believes Donald Trump’s decision to scrap the nuclear deal in favor of returning sanctions on the Middle Eastern power is one of the best measures available towards preventing North Korea from attaining a nuclear arsenal. Click for more about Mark Dubowitz. The History of Sanctions It’s unclear exactly when North Korea first set out on its path to build nuclear weapons, but they were underway in earnest by the 1980s thanks to assistance from the former Soviet Union. Pyongyang leadership has stated that nearby U.S. naval bases and general Western aggression are their primary motivations–going so far as to refer to America as a threat to North Korea’s existence. In 1985, North Korea signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty but withdrew in 2003 due to perceived U.S. aggression. Three years later the country carried out its first nuclear tests. The U.S. and regional powers have attempted to negotiate with the country to achieve denuclearization, but little results have come from the many discussions. The UN’s Response The UN Security Council, made up of fifteen countries, has managed to come to a consensus regarding North Korea’s plans and as a result, has enacted nine rounds of sanctions since the 2006 tests. The measures have changed over the years to include the prohibition of military equipment, civilian weaponry, transport vehicles, automotive parts, raw metals, coal and petroleum products, food and agricultural products, and textiles. The EU’s Response The EU has taken it upon itself to issue additional limitations on the North Korean government, specifically targeting individual officials with connections to the nuclear program. The aim of these restrictions is to prevent such individuals from gaining access to certain educational opportunities and technical training across Europe. The goal is to keep the North Korean government from gaining critical intelligence necessary in the production of a nuclear weapon. The United States’ Response The United States has gone beyond North Korea in the scope of its sanctions to include high-profile members of the Chinese and Russian banking industry who have ties with the North Korean government. These bans have been lifted and reinstated on several occasions as conditions of agreements made between the U.S. and the North Koreans. What have the Sanctions done? Matthew Ha of FDD explained that the “Trump administration’s campaign is working, but there remains much to be done to ensure that Western pressure on North Korea is truly at a maximum. Learn about the FDD CEO here. The analysis comes from information released by the U.N. on the effects of the sanctions against the Kim regime. FDD is a non-partisan organization, headed by Mark Dubowitz and dedicated to fighting terrorism and promoting freedom. Mark Dubowitz on LinkedIn. From an economic standpoint, the sanctions have had a clear toll on North Korea, but it’s hard to say whether or not the cost will be great enough to force the North Korean government into negotiations. Currently, Pyongyang is losing an estimated $800 million annually, but it still might not be enough to persuade the totalitarian leader to change course. Comments are closed.
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