UN Sanctions - Import/export of luxury goods from/to Korea Prohibited

By Vijay Kumar

THE United Nations Security Council had recently passed a Resolution 2094 (2013) strengthening and expanding the scope of United Nations sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by targeting the illicit activities of diplomatic personnel, transfers of bulk cash, and the country's banking relationships, in response to that country's third nuclear test.

Under the Resolution, Member States are required to inter alia ;

• enhance their vigilance over the diplomatic personnel of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, in a provision aimed at halting any activities that could contribute to the country's weapons programme, or which would violate any prohibited activities.

• prevent the provision of financial services or the transfer of any financial or other assets or resources, including "bulk cash", which might be used to evade the sanctions. They are also called on to prohibit in their territories the opening of new branches or offices of "DPRK" banks and to prohibit such banks from establishing new joint ventures.

• prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to or from the Democratic People's Republic or Korea or its nationals of any banned items.

Following this resolution, India has prohibited direct or indirect export and import of Luxury goods, including but not limited to the items specified in Annex IV to UN Security Council resolution 2094 (2013).

The UN Security Council's resolution has the following goods (including but not limited to) as luxury goods:

1. Jewelry:

(a) Jewelry with pearls;

(b) Gems;

(c) Precious and semi-precious stones (including diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds);

(d) Jewelry of precious metal or of metal clad with precious metal.

2. Transportation items, as follows:

(a) Yachts;

(b) Luxury automobiles (and motor vehicles): automobiles and other motor vehicles to transport people (other than public transport), including station wagons;

(c) Racing cars.

DGFT Notification No.14/(RE-2013)/2009-2014, Dated : May 31, 2013