NATO say North Korea sanctions must stay
The world must maintain sanctions on North Korea until ‘concrete changes’ in its actions are seen, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned on 26 April on the evening of a historic inter-Korean summit.
Stoltenberg welcomed the meeting planned for 27 April between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the South's President Moon Jae-in but said there should be no let up yet in pressure on Pyongyang.
Stoltenberg said: ‘Until we see a concrete change in North Korea's actions we must continue to put pressure on North Korea and continue with the sanctions.’
The meeting to be conducted on 27 April at the line that divides the Korean peninsula, will be only the third of its kind, following summits in Pyongyang in 2000 and 2007.
Stoltenberg said: 'The summit, which comes ahead of a much-anticipated meeting between Kim and US President Donald Trump, was ‘a first important step towards a negotiated peaceful solution to the crisis on the Korean peninsula.’
Stoltenberg continued: ‘One of the reasons why we see the progress we have seen over recent weeks is because there has been strong pressure on North Korea, not least by sanctions that the UN has adopted. I welcome both that UN has been able to agree on stricter sanctions on North Korea but also that we have seen that they have been implemented to a higher degree than before.’
The tension-wracked peninsula has seen a dramatic diplomatic rapprochement in recent weeks, since Moon used the South's Winter Olympics as an opportunity to broker dialogue with Pyongyang.
You may also like
More from Defence Notes
-
![How might European countries look to tackle drone incursions?]()
How might European countries look to tackle drone incursions?
Disruption of infrastructure in Europe, whether by cyberattack, physical damage to pipelines or uncrewed aerial vehicles flying over major airports, as has happened more recently, is on the rise. What is the most effective way of countering the aerial aspect of this not-so-open warfare?
-
![Taiwan approved for $11 billion weapon purchase from US]()
Taiwan approved for $11 billion weapon purchase from US
The US State Department’s approval of a multi-billion-dollar sale of weapons to Taiwan includes tactical mission networks equipment, uncrewed aerial systems, artillery rocket systems and self-propelled howitzers as well as anti-tank guided missiles.
-
![Ireland spells out $2.3 billion shopping list in five-year defence spending plan]()
Ireland spells out $2.3 billion shopping list in five-year defence spending plan
Ireland’s multi-annual investment in capital defence spending is set to rise from €300m in 2026 to €360m in 2029–2030 with major upgrades across land, air, maritime and cyber domains.
-
![Canada to deepen integration of multi-domain capabilities to strengthen its defences]()
Canada to deepen integration of multi-domain capabilities to strengthen its defences
The Canadian Department of National Defence has created new organisations to manage the procurement and integration of all-domain solutions and allocated US$258.33 million to strengthen production capacities.
-
![US National Security Strategy prioritises advanced military capabilities and national industry]()
US National Security Strategy prioritises advanced military capabilities and national industry
The 2025 NSS has emphasised investment in the US nuclear and air defence inventory and national industry, but it leaves multiple unanswered questions on how the White House will implement this approach.
-
![Canada set to look away from its neighbour and across the Atlantic for partners]()
Canada set to look away from its neighbour and across the Atlantic for partners
While non-EU UK struggles to join the Security Action for Europe initiative, which provides loans for defence programmes, Canada has become the first country outside Europe to get access – and did so for a nominal fee.
