In contrast to the fast pace of nuclear weapon and long-range missile tests conducted by North Korea the previous year, 2018 has seen a flurry of diplomatic activity aimed at ending the country’s isolation. The primary focus of U.S. attention has been on whether or not North Korea will agree to verifiably dismantle nuclear and missile programs in exchange for security guarantees and diplomatic normalization, but implicit in this is if, when, and how to roll back multilateral sanctions that have stifled North Korea’s economy.
The interactive below outlines the sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council on North Korea over the past twelve years, on top of earlier sanctions. It allows the reader to navigate by resolution or by type of sanction, and to see the cumulative effect at any point in time. The purpose is to help users understand what is currently required of UN members with regard to economic engagement with the North, how pressure on Pyongyang has built up over time, and what active measures can be taken if countries want to trade sanctions relief for steps to reduce—and ultimately eliminate—the North Korean nuclear threat.