The adoption of UNSC Resolution 2270 on 2 March 2016 imposing additional sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in response to its fourth nuclear test and illicit use of ballistic missile technology earlier this year has seen the introduction of unprecedented inspection and financial provisions into the sanctions, thus considerably broadening the scope of the West’s existing restrictive measures against Pyongyang. Amongst them, cargo screening – referring to mandatory inspections of any cargo entering or leaving the…
Embed from Getty Images Background On 7 February 2016 North Korea launched a long range missile, with the claimed objective of placing a satellite (Kwangmyongsong-4) into orbit. The launch, in breach of United Nations resolutions, has been strongly condemned by the United Nations Security Council following emergency consultations . Similar condemnation has been voiced by a number of countries including the United Kingdom, United States, South Korea and Japan. Following emergency consultations, the United Nations Security Council strongly condemned the…
Brazilian naval nuclear facility: Aramar Experimental Center at Iperó Project Alpha is releasing today the latest in its Proliferation Case Study series. This new report is an in-depth study of how Brazil has used foreign assistance to support its nuclear programme – particularly its efforts to enrich uranium using centrifuge technology.
MCS's factory. Image via MCS-Int.de Iran’s illicit procurement of goods and technology has been a longstanding hallmark of its nuclear and missile programmes. While procurement agents working for these programmes have regularly been caught attempting to purchase goods and materials from foreign companies, one modus operandi Iran is not known to have undertaken is the purchasing of overseas factories to produce sensitive components for nuclear- or missile-related end-users. This method was used by Iraq’s Ministry of Industry and Military Industrialisation…
Four companies and five individuals have been charged by the US Department of Justice for allegedly devising an international network that supplied the Iranian military and Iran’s nuclear programme with $24 million worth of controlled goods between 2010 and 2015. The case illustrates how such networks function at an international level and draws attention to some interesting factors regarding Iran’s illicit procurement capabilities and the evasion of controls in light of the recently agreed Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action…
While the United Nations Security Council has unanimously endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreed on Iran’s nuclear programme, the treatment of the Iranian ballistic missile programme remains a contentious part of the long-term accord. Although Iran resisted having its missile programme made a subject of the negotiations, the drafters of the JCPOA have included provisions that aim to limit Iran’s missile activities. As President Obama said at the negotiations’ conclusion, “Iran must abide by the deal…