Government to Control Exports of North Korean Satellite-Related Items from Next Month... Adds to 'Watchlist'

The government will begin full-scale export controls on items that could be used for North Korea's satellite manufacturing as early as next month. It plans to operate the world's first export control list specialized for responding to North Korea's satellite development, aiming to minimize North Korea's export of related items through third countries.

On the 25th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced the administrative notice of the amendment to the "Special Notice on Trade for the Fulfillment of International Peace and Security Obligations" (hereinafter referred to as the Special Notice), which adds 77 satellite-related items to the North Korea-specific export control list called the "North Korea Customized Watchlist."

Originally, the Special Notice's "North Korea Customized Watchlist" consisted of three major fields: nuclear-related (89 items), missile-related (41 items), and submarine-related (60 items). This time, the satellite-related field has been newly added.

The additional list includes 77 items such as solar panels that can supply power to satellites, gyroscopes that stabilize balance in the air, image sensors for satellite-mounted cameras, antennas, satellite navigation devices (GPS), and power control devices.

The government will implement the revised notice as early as next month. This measure focuses on raising awareness among Korean citizens and the international community to prevent low-spec products widely used for civilian purposes from flowing into North Korea through third countries. Externally, the government has also shared the list in advance with many allied countries that manufacture related items so that they can utilize it for export controls to North Korea.

This measure is based on the "catch-all" system under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2270 adopted in 2016. The "catch-all" means that even if an item is not listed as a prohibited item under Security Council resolutions or multilateral export control regimes, UN member states can impose export bans on items they judge to contribute to North Korea's nuclear and missile programs or sanctions evasion.

Earlier on the 18th of this month, North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, while inspecting the National Space Development Agency, ordered the launch of the completed military reconnaissance satellite No. 1 within the planned timeframe and emphasized the need to possess various satellites in the future, including additional reconnaissance satellites, weather observation satellites, earth observation satellites, and communication satellites.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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