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BY AYIN DREAM D. APLASCA
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Friday. September 15, 2017
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THREE days ago the United Nations (UN) Security Council unanimously approved new sanctions on North Korea.
A resolution was passed and one of the sanctions was banning oil importation to North Korea. However, this only bans Pyongyang’s imports of crude oil at the level of the last 12 months. It only limits the import of refined petroleum products to two million barrels a year.
It also bans all textile exports and prohibits all countries from authorizing new work permits for North Korean workers. Also, one of the options was to freeze the international assets of the government and leader Kim Jong Un.
Now, the questions that many ask are: What is international sanction? And how does it work? Does it affect North Korea?
A lot may ask these considering North Korea as a hard-headed country.
International sanctions are actions taken by countries against others for political reasons. It’s either unilateral or multilateral. These are used to persuade a particular government or group of governments to change their policy by restricting trade, investment or other commercial activity.
The objectives of these sanctions are to resolve conflicts, to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, to counter terrorism, democratization, and to protect civilians.
In the case of North Korea, it is being sanctioned in the economic aspect. This economic sanctions are commercial and financial penalties. It usually includes various forms of trade barriers, tariffs, and restrictions on financial transactions.
Do these sanctions work?
Many professionals say sanctions can be at least successful and should remain in the tool kits of foreign policymakers. There are sanctions which are effective in one situation but may fail in another. It all depends on countless factors.
However, experts said these sanctions may be best availed of when there is a well-rounded approach, attainable goals, multilateral support, and credible and flexible.
In relation to North Korea, the new sanctions focus on international financial institutions and banking systems. These sanctions are likely to have more impact than trade sanctions. Definitely, these will give great distress to North Korea.
The resolution will put an end to the regime of making money from the thousands of North Korean citizens sent overseas to work and heavily taxed. It will eventually starve the regime of millions of dollars or more in annual revenues.
It is a tragedy of North Koreans. The international community is giving them a hard time by subjecting them to misery.
(Atty. Ayin Dream D. Aplasca practices her profession in Iloilo City. She may be reached thru ayindream.aplasca@gmail.com/PN)
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