Conference on North Korea and International Sanctions
The Institute for Far Eastern Studies (IFES), Kyungnam University, and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) hosted a conference on “International Sanctions and North Korea”. Distinguished experts from, amongst others, the UN panel of experts, Stanford University and the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs shed light on the issue. Kim Hyung-seok, new vice-minister of unification, gave a congratulatory remark. Nearly 200 guests attended the conference.
With two sessions, firstly assessing the complex process of crafting sanctions and secondly discussing the consequences on the ground, the conference offered a comprehensive look at the topic.
Witnessing a year so far with yet another nuclear test, various missile tests and the closing of the Kaesong Industrial Complex the conference topic was more pressing than ever. Sanctions were only introduced in March after arduous discussion rounds of the UN Security Council and it has yet to be seen in how far the newest rounds of sanctions will have an impact. One panelist though proclaimed a “cautious optimism” since China supported the new rounds of sanctions which are significantly stricter and far reaching.
Nevertheless, implementation of the sanctions is the key: The sanctions since 2006 have only been implemented by less than 50% of the UN states. Furthermore, as for example another speaker pointed out, North Korea has a long experience with sanctions and limitations but nevertheless witnessed a generally stable economy in the last decade compared to the 1990s.
The partnership of IFES and FNF was established in 2008. Since then, they’ve hosted at least one international event per year.