The Erosion of the UN Security Council Sanctions Regime Against the DPRK

This article seeks to examine the rationale behind the decision of the United States, China, and Russia to impose sanctions against North Korea together with the incentives to comply with the principles of the sanctions regime or not to comply with them. The convergence of their initial self-interests allowed the establishment of the UNSC Sanctions Regime. However, this institution was unable to ensure compliance with its norms and principles. Consequently, primarily due to the intensification of great-power contradictions, China and Russia appeared to lose interest in maintaining the Regime, particularly in light of their rivalry with the US. Conversely, the US demonstrated a tendency to exploit the Regime.