Cabinet agrees to comply with UN sanctions on North Korea

The resolution adopted by the UNSC on December 22 to further squeeze the regime’s economy strengthened measures regarding the supply, sale or transfer to North Korea of all refined petroleum products, including diesel and kerosene, with specific preconditions and follow-up actions.
The measure reduced the allowed maximum aggregate amount for 12 months beginning on January 1 to 500,000 barrels.
It also introduced a limit of 4 million barrels, or 525,000 tonnes, of aggregate crude oil for the 12-month period starting on December 22 supplied, sold or transferred by UN members to North Korea. Member countries are required to report the amounts of crude oil provided to North Korea to the UN sanctions body, known as the 1718 Committee, every 90 days.
The UN sanctions also ban North Korea’s export of food and agricultural products; machinery; electrical equipment; earth and stone, including magnesite and magnesia; wood; and ships. It also prohibits Pyongyang from selling or transferring fishing rights.
The resolution also imposes a ban on the supply, sale or transfer to North Korea of all industrial machinery, transport vehicles, iron, steel and other metals, with the exception of spare parts to maintain its commercial civilian passenger aircraft currently in use.
It also prohibits UN members from providing work authorisations for North Korean nationals and requires member countries to repatriate all North Koreans earning income and government attaches monitoring workers abroad within 24 months from December 22.
A Thai government spokes-man, Athisit Chaiyanuwat, said Thailand as a UN member was required to submit a midterm report within 15 months and a final report within 27 months stating that all North Korean nationals had been repatriated. 
However, Athisit did not say how exactly Thailand would comply with the UN resolution.