Are more sanctions the answer?
Many policy analysts see only a variety of poor options; none guarantee the denuclearization of North Korea, and some, if unsuccessful, could make matters worse. Many experts say that before new sanctions are considered, the existing ones should be better enforced.
Various countries and businesses have been found evading military and financial restrictions. Shipping and trading companies; fuel, mineral, and other national resource exporters; overseas employers of North Korean nationals; and financial services companies have been accused of circumventing sanctions. While some entities purposefully shirk sanctions, others may do so inadvertently, according to a report by the Institute for Science and International Security that found
fifty-six countries have violated [PDF] UN measures in 2018. In recent years, the U.S. Treasury has designated Chinese and Russian banks and information technology companies, as well as Singaporean commodities companies, for facilitating finances for North Korea.
Disagreements remain over how to move forward. Some argue that there is room for far tougher sanctions against North Korea and those who profit from transacting with it. Others fear that expanding sanctions against Chinese entities could
jeopardize the U.S.-China relationship and undermine bilateral cooperation on issues such as terrorism and climate change.
Still others argue that sanctions will take years to have a meaningful impact, and that any approach to North Korea will require incremental increases in pressure. Experts including CFR’s Snyder say that sanctions must be implemented in conjunction with other measures, such as diplomacy with Pyongyang and assurances by Washington to its allies in the region.
Meanwhile, enforcement can be improved with enhanced training for authorities inspecting ships in international ports. Filling in the cracks in enforcement could force Pyongyang to change how it allocates its budget. As the United States couples sanctions with diplomatic efforts, “Washington should prioritize
developing a roadmap with Pyongyang that lays out a step-by-step approach that provides rewards along the way commensurate with North Korean actions,” writes former National Security Council official Eric Brewer in
Foreign Affairs.
