Global Geopolitical Series: North Korea offered talks as UNSC adopts new sanctions

In response to North Korea’s ballistic missile test on November 29th, when North Korea claimed to have tested a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile, Hwasong-15, capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. On Friday before Christmas, United Nations Security Council (UNSC) voted unanimously in favor tightening the sanctions against North Korea. The UNSC said in a statement, “In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member Council also decided that all UN Member States shall “prohibit” the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to the DPRK of crude oil, refined petroleum products, and various types of equipment and raw materials.

The restrictions also applied with respect to the Member States’ territories, nationals, flagged vessels, aircraft, pipelines, rail lines, or vehicles and whether or not originating in their territories.

The Security Council also decided that Member States shall repatriate all DPRK nationals earning income in that Member State’s jurisdiction and all DPRK government safety oversight attachés monitoring DPRK workers abroad “immediately but no later than 24 months,” unless the Member State determined that the national’s repatriation is prohibited under applicable national and international law, or if that national is a national of that Member State.

Further, in relation to maritime interdiction of cargo vessels, the Council decided that Member States shall seize, inspect, and impound any vessel in their ports if the Member State has reasonable grounds to believe that the vessel was involved in activities, or the transport of items, prohibited by relevant UN resolutions.”

After the resolution was passed United Nations’ secretary-general Antonio Guterres welcomed the continued unity of the Security Council and noted that it is essential to achieve the goal of denuclearization and create the space for diplomatic initiatives aimed at achieving it in a peaceful manner.

In a separate event, during the New Year speech, North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong Un offered a rare gesture to find a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis. During his New Year address, Kim expressed his wish for a peaceful resolution with the southern neighbor. However, he issued a warning to the United States against any aggression saying, “The entire mainland of the US is within the range of our nuclear weapons and the nuclear button is always on the desk of my office. They should accurately be aware that this is not a threat but a reality….No matter how much America wants to attack us with their military might and nuclear power, they know that now we possess such great nuclear power and therefore they will not dare". He added that North Korea wants to be recognized as a responsible nuclear power and will use such weapons only if threatened.