Who can resolve the Korean peninsula issue?

The Republic of Korea (RoK) on March 8 unleashed a wave of sanctions against DPRK that includes banning ships that have visited DPRK ports in the past 180 days from its waters. The Republic of Korea also blacklisted 38 DPRK officials, 2 foreigners, and 30 organizations involved in DPRK’s nuclear and missile programs. The RoK citizens abroad have been warned not to visit DPRK restaurants and RoK has officially halted the “Nanjin-Khasan” cooperative project with Russia and DPRK.

Expected reaction

Faced with sanctions and responding to a joint military drills by the US and the RoK, DPRK warned that it might use chemical weapons. It has rejected the UN sanctions and strengthened its arsenals, saying it is ready to deploy nuclear weapons and ready for a preemptive attack.

International observers say it’s not the first time DPRK has reacted negatively to a UN Security Council resolution. The UNSC imposed sanctions on DPRK in 2006, 2009, and 2013. But this year DPRK is reacting to the toughest sanctions ever. The new sanctions include mandatory inspections of cargo leaving and entering DPRK by land, sea or air; a ban on the export of coal, gold, titanium, rare earth, and all imports of aviation fuel. These measures are aimed crippling DPRK’s missile programs.

What can bring DPRK back to the negotiation table?

The public has doubts about the UNSC sanctions. 4 resolutions and increasingly tougher sanctions issued since 2006 have not eased tensions on the Korean peninsula nor persuaded DPRK to abandon its nuclear program.

It is hoped the new UN sanctions will bring the DPRK back to the negotiation table. China, which has usually refused to vote on resolutions against DPRK, has cooperated with the US on issuing the new sanctions. Both countries agree that DPRK must not develop nuclear weapons and must return to the negotiation table. Beijing has imposed sanctions on DPRK, including blacklisting a number of DPRK ships.