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.
More from Defence Notes
-
![Details revealed on Germany’s big spending plans]()
Details revealed on Germany’s big spending plans
In May this year, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the government plans to position Germany as “Europe's strongest conventional army”. A new blueprint outlines how this is going to occur through massive investment.
-
![European Council to deliver at “pace and scale” on European defence readiness 2030 roadmap]()
European Council to deliver at “pace and scale” on European defence readiness 2030 roadmap
Two of the concrete projects outlined in the readiness report, the European Air Shield and Space Shield, will aim to be launched by Q2 2026.
-
![Malaysia’s defence budget sets out major procurement goals for 2026]()
Malaysia’s defence budget sets out major procurement goals for 2026
The country has allocated RM21.70 billion for defence spending next year, with some major procurements set to be initiated across the country’s army, navy and air force.
-
![GAO highlights the need for more commercial data and availability improvements]()
GAO highlights the need for more commercial data and availability improvements
The US Government Accountability Office recently released two reports; one into the availability of selected equipment and another looking at how the government gets data and intellectual property rights through contracting.
-
![How Canada plans to “seize” the opportunity to increase investments in defence]()
How Canada plans to “seize” the opportunity to increase investments in defence
The Canadian Department of National Defence has been increasing efforts to accelerate the acquisition of new equipment and modernise its in-service inventory.
