North Korea Sanctions
The world's most sanctioned country -- how comprehensive restrictions have failed to stop Pyongyang's nuclear program.
The Most Sanctioned Country on Earth
North Korea has been subject to escalating UN, US, and EU sanctions since its first nuclear test in 2006. The sanctions regime is the most comprehensive in the world: it bans North Korean exports of coal, iron ore, textiles, and seafood; prohibits imports of refined petroleum beyond minimal caps; freezes assets of hundreds of designated entities; bans most financial transactions; and restricts the employment of North Korean workers abroad.
The intent was to deprive the Kim regime of the revenue needed to fund its nuclear and missile programs. In theory, cutting off hard currency would force Pyongyang to choose between weapons and economic survival. In practice, North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test in 2017, launched intercontinental ballistic missiles, and continued to develop its arsenal throughout the sanctions era. By 2024, it possessed an estimated 40-50 nuclear warheads and was developing solid-fuel missiles capable of reaching the US mainland.