China has banned exports to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (“DPRK”) of technology and materials that might be used in weapons production.

The new list of items banned for export to DPRK adds to a list of technologies and goods banned for export released in 2013 by the Commerce Ministry, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the China Atomic Energy Authority 2013 after DPRK had carried out its third nuclear test that year.

According to China’s Commerce Ministry, the list of banned “dual-use” items (i.e. products that have both a civilian and military use) now includes metal alloys, cutting and laser-welding equipment and materials, magnetic materials, high-strength metals, and chemical fibres.

The ban follows the latest nuclear test and rocket launch by DPRK on 6 January 2016 and 7 February 2016 respectively. These were followed by the unanimous adoption by the UN Security Council’s of Resolution 2270 (2016) (the “UN Resolution“) on 2 March 2016, and the adoption by the European Council of Regulation (EU) 2016/315 and Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/319 of 4 March 2016 (“he “March Decision”), which added 16 individuals and 12 entities to its list of designated persons (“DPs”). Please see our earlier blog post “UN, US, EU and Switzerland impose tough new sanctions on North Korea as a result of its nuclear programme” for further details on the March Decision.

The release of the list by China also follows the European Union’s implementation and extension of the UN Sanctions on DPRK in May 2016. Please see our earlier blog post “EU implements and extends UN Sanctions on North Korea” for further details on the EU’s latest amendment to the regulation underpinning its sanctions regime on DPRK.

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