US, South Korea, and Japan Establish MSMT to Monitor North Korea Sanctions After UN Deadlock

Oct 16, 2024, 06:34 AM

On October 16, the United States, South Korea, and Japan launched the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), a new multinational body to monitor enforcement of sanctions against North Korea. The initiative comes after Russia and China's veto in April led to the termination of the United Nations Security Council's 1718 Sanctions Committee's Panel of Experts, creating a monitoring deadlock. The MSMT aims to continue the disbanded UN panel's work, addressing North Korea's sanctions violations amid ongoing nuclear weapons development and regional tensions. Japan has affirmed its active engagement in the MSMT, working closely with its partners.