Australia is joining international partners to strengthen efforts to hold North Korea to account for violations and evasions of UN Security Resolution sanctions.
Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States have committed to establishing a member state-led Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) to monitor and highlight North Korea's sanctions non-compliance.
This follows Russia's March veto of the renewal of the mandate of the Panel of Experts (PoE) under the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718. The PoE was responsible for reporting on North Korea's non-compliance with sanctions.
Despite Russia's obstruction, all North Korea-related UN Security Council resolutions remain in effect and all UN Member States are required to implement them.
North Korea's ongoing pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems undermines international non-proliferation efforts. Its actions are contrary to Australia's interest in an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
North Korea's malicious cyber activities pose serious national security and economic risks and threaten the security and stability of the online environment.
North Korea's supply of arms and related materiel to Russia, in support of Russia's illegal war against Ukraine, directly violates United Nations Security Council resolutions and increases the suffering of the Ukrainian people.
Australia will continue to work with our partners to uphold international rules and norms and support global non-proliferation efforts to promote a safe and secure region and world.
