UN adopts new sanctions targeting N. Korea's coal earnings

By Yi Whan-woo

The U.N. Security Council (UNSC) has passed a new resolution aimed at preventing North Korea from exploiting loopholes in past sanctions to pursue its nuclear ambitions.

The latest sanctions, which were approved at a meeting in New York City, Wednesday, mainly target Pyongyang’s coal earnings.

Starting Jan. 1, they will restrict North Korea’s annual exports of coal, a major source of hard currency and its single largest export item, to $400 million or 7.5 million tons, whichever is lower in value.

They also newly blacklisted 10 entities and 11 individuals, many of who are suspected of helping the Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation (KOMID).

The KOMID sells coal and other natural resources to raise cash for the Kim Jong-un regime’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

The 11 individuals include two ambassadors _ Park Chul-il and Kim Sok-chol who served in Egypt and Myanmar, respectively.

Among the 10 entities are banks and trading companies, such as the Korea United Development Bank, Ilsim International Bank, Korea Daesong Bank, Korea Foreign Technical Trade Center and Korea Daesong General Trading Corporation.

The blacklisted entities mainly operate under the North Korean military and Office 39, a secret government branch that directly reports to Kim Jong-un concerning the use of cash.

The new sanction came in response to North Korea’s fifth nuclear test on Sept. 9, since which the effectiveness of UNSC Resolution 2270 has been called into question.

Resolution 2270 was adopted to punish Pyongyang for its fourth nuclear test in January and end the reclusive state’s development of weapons of mass destruction.

It, however, allowed North Korea’s to export coal if such transactions were "determined to be exclusively for livelihood purposes.”

The U.N. sources said the United States convinced China to step up punishment against North Korea after spending over two months on negotiations.

China is believed to be the only country that now buys North Korean coal, according to Reuters. China has imported 18.6 million tons of coal from North Korea over the first 10 months of this year, up almost 13 percent from 2015.

The new UNSC sanctions also ban exports of silver, copper, nickel and zinc.

To squeeze North Korea’s development of weapons of mass destruction, the latest measures prohibit international cooperation with the Kim regime over science and technology unless the UNSC approves it.

The international community will be banned from leasing aircraft and ships and their crew to North Korea unless the UNSC allows it in advance.

Employing North Koreans on foreign-flagged airplanes and ships will also be prohibited.

The sanction will not allow the sale of statues by North Korea.

North Korea has been suspected of mobilizing its artists for propaganda-themed projects in dictatorial states to prop up its cash-strapped regime.

Concerning North Korea’s exploitation of its laborers abroad, the sanctions asked U.N. members states to express concerns.

It newly adds rugs or tapestries worth more than $500 and porcelain or bone china tableware valued at more than $100 to the list of banned items.