South Korea Sanctions the North

By Abbie Schepps

North Korea now boasts making nuclear warheads small enough to fit onto ballistic missiles. While skeptics question the miniaturized nuclear warhead’s validity, the international community has decided it is not unreasonable. South Korea has introduced unilateral sanctions. It designated 30 companies with links to the North’s nuclear and missile programs, as well as 38 North Korean nationals and two foreigners. All will be banned from the South Korean financial systems. This is the first time South Korea has targeted people and companies by name, a practice used by the United Nations, the United States, and the European Union. Additionally, in an effort to tighten import and export control, South Korea will deny any ships entry that have been to North Korea in the past 180 days. South Korea’s sanctions overlap with measures imposed by the United States and the United Nations. The sanctions illustrate the international community’s intentions to change North Korea.