The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved sanctions that will toughen penalties against North Korea. The approved resolution contains the most stringent measures ever passed against North Korea, which will undermine North Korea’s ability to raise money and secure technology and other resources for its nuclear program.

The sanctions include the following:

  • All countries are required to inspect all North Korean cargo entering or leaving that country.
  • North Korea cannot sell gold, titanium ore, vanadium ore and rare earth minerals.
  • A ban on aviation fuel exports to the country, including “kerosene-type rocket fuel.”
  • Watercraft, snowmobiles and other recreational sports equipment have been added to a ban on luxury goods.
  • North Korea cannot send martial arts experts to train police officers in foreign countries.
  • Countries are required to expel North Korean diplomats accused of illicit activities.

The U.S. administration also announced related actions by the Treasury and State Department that levied sanctions against additional individuals and entities. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two entities and ten individuals with ties to the Government of North Korea and its nuclear and weapons proliferation efforts.  In a related action, the State Department designated three entities and two individuals for activities related to weapons of mass destruction proliferation. These designations freeze any properties the individuals or entities may have under U.S. jurisdiction and bars U.S. citizens from doing business with them.  For information on the designated individuals and entities, see OFAC’s SDN List update.

Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew commented on the resolution, stating: “Today the United Nations Security Council approved a historic Resolution which included key designations against North Korea, and the United States issued sanctions also targeting supporters of this repressive regime.  Together, these actions reflect a strong and unified response to North Korea’s provocative, destabilizing, and dangerous activities…. Our coordinated efforts send a clear message: the global community will not tolerate North Korea’s illicit nuclear and ballistic missile activities, and there will be serious consequences until it modifies its reckless behavior.”