Kuwait stresses commitment to UN economic sanctions on North Korea

KUWAIT, 11th August, 2017 (WAM) -- The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry refuted on Thursday recent press reports on alleged large North Korean community living in Kuwait.

Kuwait News Agency quoted an official in the ministry as saying, "Pursuant to the UN Security Council resolution on economic sanctions on North Korea, the State of Kuwait no longer issues entry visas for North Korean workers or licenses for commercial activities and halted direct flights from the country."

"Reports on alleged large numbers of North Korean workers in Kuwait are totally untrue," the source said, reaffirming Kuwait's commitment to the UN economic sanctions on Pyongyang.

Acting on the relevant UN resolutions, the Kuwaiti government set up a national interagency committee, led by the Foreign Ministry, to coordinate the economic and financial measures relating to North Korea.

"The committee decided to stop remittances to North Korea, loans from Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and all forms of freight services from the East Asian country. It also decided to downgrade the country's diplomatic representation in Kuwait," the source added.

These measures stem from Kuwait shouldering of its international responsibility and commitment to the UN Security Council resolutions in the run-up to holding a non-permanent seat at the Council next year.

The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry is in contact with the UN agencies and international partners to keep them apprised of the measures in this regard, the source added.

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