Georgetown Journal of International Law Online: Jenny Park

By Jenny Park

In an annual televised call-in, President Putin acknowledged that the West is unlikely to lift its economic sanctions against Russia any time soon. Nonetheless, Putin is undeterred. He predicted that Russia's economy could return to growth in less than two years and that the Russian economy will “reach new levels of development” in response to EU sanctions. While conceding the negative effects of EU sanctions, Putin insists upon Russia’s ability to adapt with growing technological developments, prompting faster rates of growth. Watch an excerpt of the interview on BBC.

May 06, 2015

By Jenny Park

In December, the White House blamed North Korea for hacking Sony Pictures (Sony’s confidential information was leaked and the hackers threatened attacks on movie theaters that would play The Interview, a political satire comedy poking fun at Kim Jong-un). Now, the White House has authorized the US Treasury discretionary power to impose sanctions against perpetrators of cyber-attacks on US assets and infrastructure. President Obama declared cyber-attacks as “one of the most serious economic and national security challenges.” The White House stressed that this new power will not target internet free speech and will not replace traditional law enforcement responses to cyber-attacks.

May 05, 2015

By Jenny Park

Japan extended its sanctions against North Korea for kidnapped Japanese nationals, occurring in the 1970s and '80s, for two more years. Japan cited delayed responses from North Korea regarding unresolved issues involving the kidnapping. North Korea has admitted to kidnapping 13 Japanese nationals, 8 of whom had died while in captivity. One of these victims was Megumi Yokota, who was kidnapped when she was 13. Although North Korea announced that she had killed herself and returned her supposed remains, DNA tests subsequently disputed such claim. Read more at BBC.

May 04, 2015

By Jenny Park

Earlier this month, the U.S. imposed sanctions on seven Venezuelan officials suspected, by the U.S., of committing human rights abuses in an executive order. President Obama explained in the order that these human rights abuses pose an “extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security. Venezuela and its regional allies, including Cuba, criticized the executive order as Venezuela never had, has, or will have any plans to attack the U.S., let alone “hurt anyone.” Nicaragua and Ecuador accused the U.S. of hypocrisy, viewing the U.S. as the true threat to global security.

April 07, 2015

By Jenny Park

The EU’s foreign policy chief will prepare an action plan to increase media freedom, which is of particular concern to the EU as its counter-arguments to Russian propaganda are often regarded to be unconvincing. Russia is increasing its propaganda regarding the EU, thus undermining the importance of a legitimate government and free speech. The general view is that each member state should carry out the action plan, but on a coordinated basis. This action plan is a long-term blueprint, and will supplement the upcoming EU discussion as to whether and when to extend sanctions against Russia.

April 06, 2015

By Jenny Park

U.S. federal and state authorities accused Commerzbank of dealing with Iranian companies blacklisted by the U.S. and of enabling a Japanese company to carry out accounting fraud. Commerzbank agreed to pay $1.45 billion, to admit to its conduct in a statement of facts, and to dismiss employees involved in the investigations. Although Commerzbank avoided an indictment, prosecutors can revoke the settlement if the bank misbehaves in the future. The outcome clashes with the relatively lax consequences of American banks accused of manipulating foreign currencies and other wrongdoings in foreign countries.

Read more in the Dealbook.

April 02, 2015

By Jenny Park

On March 3, 2015, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, addressed Congress regarding the Iranian nuclear crisis. Netanyahu called for Iran to completely abandon its nuclear program and for the US and Europe to impose tougher sanctions against Iran. Subsequently, Republican senators warned Iran that any international deal on the Iranian nuclear program could be revoked when President Obama leaves the office. This strong rhetoric attempts to undermine the current negotiations among Iran and the six world powers, scheduled for preliminary agreement by the end of March and to be finalized by the end of June.

Iran is a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which requires all signatory states to use nuclear material, if any, only for peaceful purposes. As part of this commitment, the signatory states must work with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an independent branch of the UN that works to ensure that states do not use nuclear material for military purposes. After a signatory state implements safeguards and submits a declaration of the state’s nuclear materials and facilities to the IAEA, the IAEA verifies its implementation and its continuing compliance.

March 26, 2015

By Jenny Park

The minority rebel group, Houthis, has formally taken power in Yemen and have dissolved parliament. This move comes in the heels of the resignation of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, the prime minister and the cabinet, which was coerced by the Houthis when they placed President Hadi under house arrest. The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution, which is not enforceable militarily, demanding that the Houthis immediately cede power. The stability of Yemen is important due to its proximity to Saudi Arabia, a top oil exporter, and its home to some of al-Qaeda’s forces. BBC summarizes the conflict here.

March 02, 2015

By Jenny Park

In response to Russia’s continued support of the rebel forces in eastern Ukraine, Canada announced that it will increase economic sanctions against Russian individuals and companies. The first of these sanctions are targeted at 17 Russian and Ukrainian organizations, with intensifying sanctions should Russia and the Russian-backed rebels fail to abide by the Minsk ceasefire agreement reached last week.

Although this Minsk ceasefire agreement was drafted by Russia and approved by the UN, the U.S. has since accused Russia for violating the Minsk agreement. Read more from BBC.

February 27, 2015

By Jenny Park

Russia’s current struggling economy illustrates the severe impact of geopolitical risks. Many factors contributed to this result, including international economic and administrative sanctions as well as coinciding falling oil prices. Russia has responded to these sanctions by imposing counter-sanctions, specifically restrictions on imports and exports. These counter-sanctions have contributed to inflation and a subsequent depreciation of the Russian ruble. Investopedia elaborates on these factors in depth.

February 26, 2015

By Jenny Park

The EU imposed new sanctions against Ukrainian rebels, rejecting Russia’s offer to waive EU’s food embargo in exchange for the EU to lift its own sanctions against Russia. The fresh sanctions come on the heels of rebel elections on November 2. The EU and US believe that Russia encouraged the vote to undermine Kiev’s sovereignty. Indeed, while the EU and US denounced the vote as illegal and illegitimate, Russia stated that it would recognize the result.

December 17, 2014

By Jenny Park

After talks to end UN sanctions in exchange for Iran to scale back its nuclear program had been extended, BBC illustrates the history of the international tension surrounding Iran’s nuclear crisis. World powers suspect that Iran is developing nuclear weapons technology. In addition to UN resolutions requiring Iran to cease enriching uranium, the US and EU have imposed additional sanctions on Iran's energy and financial sectors. However, Iran defends its defiance of the UN resolutions by its right to nuclear energy under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

December 15, 2014

By Jenny Park

Although sanctions against Russia are hurting some EU businesses, recovery is not impossible. SMD, a specialist engineering firm that exports one fifth of its market to Russia, is searching for buyers in different export markets. The search may be slow-going, however, because it can take three to four years to win a major contract. Other firms, such as Scottish Engineering, however optimistically demonstrate that recovery is possible.

December 12, 2014

By Jenny Park

When North Korea makes belligerent threats of nuclear annihilation and actually carries out nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches, the world’s response is surprisingly lukewarm. This is an odd phenomenon considering the tougher sanctions against Russia for supporting the separatists in Ukraine, and against Iran for a multitude of transgressions, including continued illicit nuclear activities.

But North Korea’s violations of international law are quite extensive. To name a few, North Korea developed nuclear weapons after withdrawing from the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and tested them out not only once in 2006, but also in 2009 and in 2012. Mind you, China, the U.S., Japan, Russia, and the two Koreas have engaged in six-party talks from 2003 to 2007 to try to resolve North Korea’s nuclear issue to no avail. Furthermore, the multiple UN sanctions (UNSecurity Council Resolutions 1718, 1874, and 2094) that imposed economic and commercial pressures against North Korea also proved to be ineffective.

November 19, 2014

By Jenny Park

Australia has lifted sanctions against Fiji after the Pacific island nation elected to end eight years of military rule and to restore the country’s parliament. Mr. Bainimarama and his FijiFirst Party won majority of the seats in parliament. Although Mr. Bainimarama had ousted the elected government in 2006, and have been authoritatively ruling Fiji since then, international observers said that the election was credible. The U.S. also announced that it will remove restrictions on financial aid to the government and on visas.

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