The European Union has imposed restrictive measures on eight individuals and four entities for their roles in supplying, funding and otherwise supporting the development of nuclear weapons in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (“DPRK”). The sanctioned persons include oil tankers and delivery vessels that have been used to transport cargo in violation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning the development of nuclear weapons by the DPRK. The DPRK Ministry of Rocket Industry is among those targeted by the new sanctions.
The EU’s DPRK sanctions regime was established in November 2006. To-date, the European Union has sanctioned 73 individuals and 17 entities in connection with the DPRK weapons programs; in addition, the European Union has transposed United Nations resolutions sanctioning 80 individuals and 75 entities for their connections to and participation in the DPRK’s weapons development. The new measures adopted by the European Union follow multiple launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles in recent months.
Council of the EU Press Release