UN Security Council Imposes Tougher Sanctions on North Korea

In November 2016, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) imposed a new round of sanctions on North Korea, significantly restricting its ability to export coal, one of its primary sources of foreign income. This move aimed to cut North Korea’s coal exports by 60%, reducing its annual revenue by an estimated $700 million. The sanctions were a direct response to North Korea’s fifth nuclear test, conducted in September 2016, which further defied international efforts to curb its nuclear ambitions. The new restrictions were designed to limit Pyongyang’s access to hard currency, which it used to finance its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. These measures marked one of the toughest economic pressure campaigns against North Korea at the time, with China—North Korea’s main trading partner—agreeing to enforce strict limits on coal imports from the regime. However, despite these sanctions, North Korea continued its nuclear and missile tests in the following years, leading to even harsher international actions in 2017.