Strengthening Implementation and Enforcement of the Arms Embargo on North Korea (SAENK)

The Strengthening Implementation and Enforcement of the Arms Embargo on North Korea (SAENK) project aims to increase knowledge and identify concrete actions on the practical implementation of the UN sanctions and arms embargo on North Korea in order to strengthen national implementation and enforcement of the measures in Africa and the Middle East.

Funders: The Netherlands

resource library
resources and tools
external resources

The Small Arms Survey’s Strengthening Implementation and Enforcement of the Arms Embargo on North Korea (SAENK) project contributes to the efforts of the UN Sanctions Committee and Panel of Experts established pursuant to UNSC Resolution 1718 to curb the proliferation of arms in view of a reduction in sanctions avoidance by UN member states.

During the first phase of this project (2018–20), a considerable body of knowledge was acquired on how North Korea evades UN sanctions and how UN member states can benefit from enhanced support to implement and enforce UN sanctions and the UN arms embargo on North Korea.

The second phase of the project expanded the knowledge base on arms embargo evasion techniques and undertook consultations on arms embargo implementation by disseminating policy-relevant tools and fostering targeted intervention in order to:

  • increase the detection of UN sanctions evasion by North Korea and provide support for strengthening national regulatory frameworks;
  • increase technical knowledge of the arms embargo regime and the techniques used to violate it; and
  • enhance coordination and information sharing on the implementation and enforcement of the UN arms embargo on North Korea at the international level.

The SAENK project is made possible by the support of the Netherlands.