This is a great time to be active in arms control and disarmament issues. There’s so much happening right now, especially at the UN. On Friday, the Security Council voted to step up sanctions against North Korea in response to the DPRK’s recent nuclear test and missile launches.
I spoke recently with a sanctions expert at the UN who told me that one can generally gauge the Security “Council’s political will on a particular sanctions issue depending on whether the Council 1) establishes a Sanctions Committee; 2) establishes a monitoring mechanism; and 3) authorizes/mandates the Committee to designate individuals/entities for sanctions (e.g., assets freeze, travel ban) which violate the sanctions regime”.
In the case of DPRK, there already exists a sanctions committee and a monitoring body. The most recent round of sanctions leveled against North Korea would grant the Security Council the power to review cases in which UN member state vessels entering or departing from North Korea refuse inspection, and in each individual case the Security Council can opt to sanction the vessel’s government. This added measure clearly results in a more robust sanctions regime, but because sanctions are not made automatic against violators, the regime against the North is not as muscular as it could be.
In addition to keeping an eye on what's happening at the UN, WFUNA is busy preparing for the DPI/NGO Conference on Disarmament, Peace and Security taking place in September in Mexico City. Check out the disarmament hub website for an opportunity to win a trip to the conference!
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