Security Council Grants Mandate Extension for Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Expert Panel, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2345 (2017)

The Security Council decided this morning to extend until 24 April 2018 the mandate of the Panel of Experts for the committee monitoring sanctions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and expressed its intent to take appropriate action on a further extension no later than 24 March 2018.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2345 (2017) under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Council requested that the Panel provide the sanctions committee with a midterm report on its work no later than 5 August 2017, as requested in paragraph 43 of resolution 2321 (2016).

By other terms of the draft, submitted by the United States, the Council requested that after a discussion with the Committee, the Panel submit its midterm report to the Council by 6 September 2017.  It also requested that the experts submit to the Committee a final report containing its findings and recommendations no later than 1 February 2018.  The Council requested further that, following a discussion with the Committee, the Panel submit its final report to the Council no later than 14 March 2018.

At the meeting’s outset, Council President Boris Johnson, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, strongly condemned, on behalf of all members, yesterday’s terrorist attack in London, expressing condolences to the bereaved families.  The Council then observed a moment of silence in memory of all victims of terrorism.

The meeting began at 10:05 a.m. and ended at 10:09 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 2345 (2017) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its previous relevant resolutions, including resolutions 825 (1993), 1540 (2004), 1695 (2006), 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 1887 (2009), 1928 (2010), 1985 (2011), 2050 (2012), 2087 (2013), 2094 (2013), 2141 (2014), 2207 (2015), 2270 (2016), 2276 (2016), 2321 (2016), as well as the statements of its President of 6 October 2006 (S/PRST/2006/41), 13 April 2009 (S/PRST/2009/7), and 16 April 2012 (S/PRST/2012/13),

“Recalling the creation, pursuant to paragraph 26 of resolution 1874 (2009), of a Panel of Experts, under the direction of the Committee, to carry out the tasks provided for by that paragraph,

“Recalling the interim report by the Panel of Experts appointed by the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraph 26 of resolution 1874 (2009) and the 27 February 2017 final report (S/2017/150) by the Panel,

“Recalling the methodological standards for reports of sanctions monitoring mechanisms contained in the Report of the Informal Working Group of the Security Council on General Issues of Sanctions (S/2006/997),

“Welcoming the efforts made by the Secretariat to expand and improve the roster of experts for the Security Council Subsidiary Organs Branch, bearing in mind the guidance provided by the Note of the President (S/2006/997),

“Emphasizing, in that regard, the importance of credible, fact-based, independent assessments, analysis, and recommendations, in accordance with the mandate of the Panel of Experts, as specified in paragraph 26 of resolution 1874 (2009),

“Determining that proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, as well as their means of delivery, continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security,

“Acting under Article 41 of Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

“1.   Decides to extend until 24 April 2018 the mandate of the Panel of Experts, as specified in paragraph 26 of resolution 1874 (2009) and modified in paragraph 29 of resolution 2094 (2013), decides that this mandate shall apply also with respect to the measures imposed in resolution 2321 (2016), expresses its intent to review the mandate and take appropriate action regarding further extension no later than 24 March 2018, and requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary administrative measures to this effect;

“2.   Requests the Panel of Experts to provide to the Committee no later than 5 August 2017 a midterm report on its work, as requested in paragraph 43 of resolution 2321 (2016), and further requests that, after a discussion with the Committee, the Panel of Experts submit to the Council its midterm report by 6 September 2017, and requests also a final report to the Committee no later than 1 February 2018 with its findings and recommendations, and further requests that, after a discussion with the Committee, the Panel of Experts submit to the Council its final report no later than 14 March 2018;

“3.   Requests the Panel of Experts to provide to the Committee a planned program of work no later than thirty days after the Panel’s reappointment, encourages the Committee to engage in regular discussions about this program of work and to engage regularly with the Panel about its work, and further requests the Panel of Experts to provide to the Committee any updates to this program of work;

“4.   Expresses its intent to continue to follow the work of the Panel;

“5.   Urges all States, relevant United Nations bodies and other interested parties, to cooperate fully with the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) and the Panel of Experts, in particular by supplying any information at their disposal on the implementation of the measures imposed by resolution 1718 (2006), resolution 1874 (2009), resolution 2087 (2013) resolution 2094 (2013), resolution 2270 (2016), and resolution 2321 (2016);

“6.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”