North Korea–European Union relations

North Korea–European Union relations

EU
North Korea

North Korea–European Union relations are the foreign relations between the country of North Korea and the European Union.[1]

In this article, DPRK is a shorthand name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea.

Political Relations

The EU wishes to help the DPRK "promote peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, in particular through support for international efforts to promote denuclearisation and an improvement in the human rights situation".[2] The European Community first started diplomatic relations with DPRK in May 2001 and most EU countries have since made diplomatic relations with the DPRK. The EU has routinely mentioned the human rights situation in the DPRK bilaterally and through United Nations (UN) bodies, including co-sponsoring country resolutions.[2] The EU still is concerned about human rights violations they allege are occurring within the country and has hosted talks with anti-DPRK defectors.

The EU wishes for the DPRK to not engage in nuclear or ballistic missile related programs or funding. It has not ruled out further sanctions if the DPRK fails to comply.[3] The EU has implemented UN Security Council resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2087 (2013), 2094 (2013), 2270 (2016), 2321 (2016), 2356 (2017), 2371 (2017) and 2375 (2017) and has also adopted additional autonomous measures that complement and reinforce the UN-based sanctions.[4]

Humanitarian Support

The EU has delivered primarily food assistance to the DPRK since 1995.[4] Some member states have their own efforts in addition to those of the EU.

Trade and Sanctions

The DPRK had economic interests in the European Union. In March 2002, the DPRK's trade minister visited certain EU member states, including Belgium, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Sweden, and the country has also been known to send short-term trainees to Europe. Additionally, workshops regarding DPRK's economic reform have taken place with EU diplomats and economists as participants.[5] Before increasing economic sanctions against the DPRK in 2016, the DPRK's external trade to the EU accounted for less than 0.5% of the country's total external trade.[4]

The EU has put into place restrictions on member state interactions to the DPRK as well, such as restrictions of certain services and financial support for DPRK external trade. Some of these services banned include computer assistance, nuclear or ballistic missile research, mining services, and refining services.[4] The EU has a prohibition of export credits, guarantees, insurances, and investments to the DPRK.

Specific Items Barred

The EU currently bars the import and export of arms to the DPRK as well as any nuclear-related or ballistic missile related items. The EU does not permit the export or import of many natural ground resources to the DPRK (i.e. coal, iron ore, gold, silver, etc.).[4] In addition, the EU forbids the export or import of statues, helicopters, vessels, banknotes and coinage, luxury goods, textiles, aviation and rocket fuel, petroleum, natural gas, and seafood from or to the DPRK.

References

  1. ↑ Although there has been a large degree of integration between European Union member states, foreign relations is still a largely intergovernmental matter, with the 28 members controlling their own relations to a large degree. However, with the Union holding more weight as a single bloc, there are at times attempts to speak with one voice, notably on trade and energy matters. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy personifies this role.
  2. 1 2 European External Action Service (26 June 2016). "DPRK and the EU".
  3. ↑ Council of the European Union (12 December 2016). "North Korea: Council adopts conclusions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)".
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 European Union External Action Service (15 September 2017). "EU-Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) relations".
  5. ↑ Park, Youngho (2006). 21st century NEA relations and human rights in North Korea. p. 245. ISBN 8988435834.
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