Biden Administration Expected to Ease Sanctions in Line with North Korea Denuclearization Pace

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] There is a prospect that the Joe Biden administration in the United States will move to ease sanctions in line with North Korea's denuclearization.

According to the "Diplomacy with North Korea: Status Report" by the U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS) on the 6th, CRS evaluated based on Special Representative for North Korea Affairs Sung Kim's expectations that "the Biden administration's approach appears to be a plan to offer some sanctions relief in correspondence with phased denuclearization."

However, it explained, "Considering the restrictions stipulated by law, it will be difficult for the administration to ease sanctions without congressional support," adding, "U.S. sanctions on North Korea target not only weapons development but also human rights violations, money laundering, arms trafficking, international terrorism, and cyber activities."

The report pointed out, "Some analysts consider the Biden administration's approach to be overly passive, with little substantive content in official proposals."

The report emphasized, "If North Korea-U.S. talks resume, lawmakers may discuss the value of the Biden administration's goal of pursuing short-term and gradual dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear program rather than seeking earlier and broader denuclearization," and "There could also be discussions on ways to pressure the administration to more effectively protect humanitarian aid from the impact of sanctions."