Another nuclear test may mean more US sanctions on North Korea

The most senior US diplomat for the Asia-Pacific region, Daniel Russel, has said that further sanctions could be imposed on North Korea by the UN or US if it conducts another nuclear test. They may include measures designed to prevent N Koreans from earning currency abroad, which is sent back to N Korea in sums totalling up to $900m a year. In the UN resolution imposing wide-ranging sanctions on North Korea (see previous blog), the Security Council expressed “its determination to take further significant measures in the event of a further DPRK nuclear test or launch”.

Interestingly, the UN directed its N Korea Sanctions Committee (in that resolution) to draft a comprehensive compilation of previous UN sanctions imposed on North Korea, in order to facilitate implementation by Member States.