Russia-blocked UN Sanctions on North Korea, 'North Korea Surveillance' CCTV Reactivated

UN Security Council Expert Panel Blocked by Russian Obstruction
New International Monitoring System Launched Led by South Korea, US, and Japan
New Challenge: Expanding Participation Beyond UN Framework

To fill the void left by the disbandment of the UN's North Korea sanctions monitoring network due to Russia's obstruction, countries sharing South Korea's stance have launched their own monitoring system. This comes six months after the collapse of the 'expert panel.'

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 16th, the 'Multilateral Sanction Monitoring Team' (MSMT), consisting of 11 countries to detect and report violations of North Korea sanctions, officially launched on the same day. Participants include South Korea, the United States, Japan, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Kim Hong-gyun, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, is making an external announcement related to North Korean sanctions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs annex of the Government Seoul Office Building on the afternoon of the 16th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

MSMT serves as a 'replacement' for the expert panel under the UN Security Council's North Korea Sanctions Committee, which was established following North Korea's second nuclear test in 2009 but later dissolved. Unlike the previous panel, MSMT operates outside the UN framework by uniting like-minded countries. A Foreign Ministry official explained, "The launch of MSMT was driven by the recognition and determination of key countries to swiftly address the gap in the Security Council's North Korea sanctions enforcement monitoring system amid ongoing violations of Security Council resolutions, such as North Korea's illegal arms transactions."

The UN expert panel investigated suspected violations of North Korea sanctions resolutions, published regular reports, and issued recommendations for sanctions enforcement. However, Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council with veto power, exercised its veto against the resolution to extend the panel's mandate annually, leading to the panel's termination at the end of April.

MSMT, launched on this day, is expected to operate similarly to the former panel by continuously monitoring violations and evasions of North Korea sanctions, sharing related information, and publishing reports. While the previous panel issued biannual regular reports, MSMT is also considering publishing detailed reports on specific issues as needed.

Kim Hong-gyun, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, is making an external announcement related to North Korea sanctions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs annex of the Government Seoul Office Building on the afternoon of the 16th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Given the ongoing confrontation between blocs in the international order and the uncertainties surrounding the UN system, this move is interpreted as choosing a friend-centered independent mechanism that can secure faster momentum. A Foreign Ministry official expressed hope, saying, "Being free from the power dynamics within the Security Council that previously constrained the panel's activities and not being bound by existing reporting schedules will allow us to overcome the limitations of the previous panel."

Of course, since China and Russia, who show no will to enforce North Korea sanctions, are not involved, it is expected that violations will be reported without omission. However, concerns arise that the loss of the 'UN mark' may reduce credibility. The influence could decline as much as the absence of China and Russia. In the past, the expert panel's corrective recommendations often went unimplemented due to lack of enforceability.

At the MSMT launch ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Seoul on the same day, Kim Hong-kyun, First Vice Foreign Minister, left room for future consideration, stating, "We have reviewed the system within the UN and will continue to do so." He also noted that if the number of participating countries increases in the future, they will be able to publish comprehensive reports based on collected and analyzed information, emphasizing, "We will develop this into a sanctions violation monitoring system comparable to the UN panel."