22 September, 2017
"Today the PSC [EU member states' ambassadors] agreed on a package of new autonomous measures", an EU official told the agency. Under the new resolution, North Korea is unable to export more textiles, which was the second most important export product, as well as a limit on the purchase of oil.
North Korea blamed economic sanctions against the country for child rights abuses, following a statement from independent experts at a United Nations panel addressing alleged forced child labor and human trafficking in North Korea.
The EU plans to reduce how much money North Korean workers in Europe can send home - seen as a key source of vital foreign exchange revenue - from its current level of 15,000 euros.
In addition, some eight new North Korean officials are likely to be added to the EU sanctions list, stopping them from traveling to the bloc and freezing any assets in European banks.
However, Germany and Sweden are reluctant to totally isolate North Korea. "In this situation, you must continue to toughen sanctions against North Korea", said the Chancellor.
Human Rights Watch, one of several worldwide organizations advocating for improved monitoring of rights in North Korea, said in a statement issued Wednesday the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child should "press the North Korean government to protect children who are victims of sexual abuse and harassment". They have maintained diplomatic ties with Pyongyang since the 1970s, providing humanitarian aid to North Koreans. Trade between the European Union and North Korea fell to just 27 million euros in 2016 from more than 300 million euros a decade ago.
