The Authority and Challenges of the UNSC regarding the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destructions: Sanctions Resolutions against North Korea as material for analysis
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Abstract
Regarding the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has adopted sanctions resolutions against North Korea's nuclear weapons development program. However, the use of veto power by Russia, as a permanent member, has placed the sanctions system against North Korea in a precarious position, highlighting structural problems within the UNSC. This study uses a normative juridical method with a descriptive-analytical approach based on official documents, academic journals, and reports from the UN. The results of this study show that the UNSC has been effective in some cases, particularly in the post-Cold War international community. However, structural problems within the UNSC remain to this day, whereby the UNSC has the potential to become dysfunctional due to the use of vetoes, highlighting the need for structural reform of the UNSC.
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Yasue, K. (2026). The Authority and Challenges of the UNSC regarding the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destructions: Sanctions Resolutions against North Korea as material for analysis. Padjadjaran Journal of International Law, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.23920/pjil.v10i2.2655
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References
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Charter of the United Nations.
Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes.
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The Covenant of the League of Nations.
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United Nations UNSC Resolution 1874 (2009), < https://docs.un.org/en/S/RES/1874(2009)>.
Hans Morgenthau, Politics among Nations, New York: Knopf, 1972.
Kenneth Waltz, Theory of international politics, Philippines: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc., 1979.
Mochtar Kusumaatmadja, Konsep-Konsep Hukum Dalam Pembangunan. Bandung: PT Alumni, Edisi digital, 2021.
Takeo Sogawa, International Law and the Criminalization of War, Tokyo: Shinzansha Publisher, 2004.
Other Documents
Asan Institute for Policy Studies, “Challenge in the Era of Chaos”, The Asan Institute for Policy Studies (2021): 1-20 < https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep29685>.
BBC News. “Uncertain future for Camp Zeist”. BBC News ;2002.
Elena Adreevska, “The UN as a Dispute Settlement System: The Role of the UNSC.” Journal of Political Administrative and Local Studies, Vol. 1 Issue 1, (2018): 19-32
Gilchrist Huntington, “Political Disputes: Dumbarton Oaks and the Experience of the League of Nations”, Proceedings of the Academy of Political Science, Vol. 21, No. 3 (1945): 136-146 < https://www.jstor.org/stable/1173072?origin=crossref>.
H. Karsten Schmidt, “The Charter of the United Nations: An Instrument to Re-Establish International Peace and Security?”, Indiana Law Journal Vol. 3 Issue 33 Article 2 (Winter 1958): 322-337
ICJ Press Release, “Questions of Interpretation and Application of 1971 Montreal Convention Arising from Aerial Incident at Lockerbie”, (September 2003),
Joseph DeThomas, “UN Panel of Experts: The Final Act”, 38 North Stimson Center, (April 2024), < https://www.38north.org/2024/04/un-panel-of-experts-the-final-act/>.
Joint Statement, “Joint Statement on Establishing MSMT for Implementation of UN UNSC Resolutions regarding the DPRK”, (May 2024)
Masahiko Asada, “UN Sanctions and Export Controls against North Korea”, CISTEC Journal No.131 (Januari 2011):14-24.
Nigel D. White, “The Legacy of the League of Nations: Continuity of Change?”, Revista REDI, Vol. 71, No. 2: 277-283 < https://www.revista-redi.es/redi/article/view/545/529>.
Rain Liivoja, “The Scope of the Supremacy Clause of the United Nations Charter”, The International and Comparative Law Quarterly, Vol. 57, No. 3 (2008) :583-612,
Report of the Secretary-General, “Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization”, Report of the Secretary-General (September 1993), < https://cdn.un.org/unyearbook/yun/chapter_pdf/1993YUN/1993_SG_REPORT.pdf> accessed on 8 November 2025.
Robert Black, “The Lockerbie Disaster”, Archiv des Völkerrechts, Vol. 37, No. 2 (1999): 214-225
Rosalyn Higgins, “Peace and Security Achievements and Failures”, European Journal of International Law, Issue vol 6. No.1 (1995): 445-460
UNSC Data “Vetoes Since 1946”, Peace Security Data Hub, < https://psdata.un.org/dataset/DPPA-SCVETOES>.
UNSC Report, “Active UNSC Sanctions Regimes: An Abridged History”, UNSC Report, < https://www.UNSCreport.org/images/homepage/security_council_sanctions_regimes.pdf>.
UNSC Report, “Note by the President of the UNSC”, UNSC Report (1992),
UNSC Report, “The Veto”, UNSC Report (2024),
Taira Nishi. “Social Law Model for International Law in the Era of the League of Nations”, Yearbook of World Law, No. 36 (2017): 33-58.
The Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), “Who We are”, < https://msmt.info/About/MSMT>.
UN News, “General Assembly debates Russia’s veto of DPR Korea sanctions panel”, UN News (April 2024), < https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/04/1148431>.
UN News, “UNSC notified of DPR of Korea's withdrawal from nuclear arms accord”, UN News (January 2003), < https://news.un.org/en/story/2003/01/56032>.
Legal Documents
Charter of the United Nations.
Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes.
Reports of the Panel of Experts < https://main.un.org/UNSC/en/sanctions/1718/panel_experts/reports>.
The Covenant of the League of Nations.
United Nations UNSC Resolutions. < https://main.un.org/UNSC/en/content/resolutions-0 >.
United Nations UNSC Resolution 1695 (2006), < https://docs.un.org/en/S/RES/1695(2006)>.
United Nations UNSC Resolution 1718 (2006), < https://docs.un.org/en/S/RES/1718(2006)>.
United Nations UNSC Resolution 1874 (2009), < https://docs.un.org/en/S/RES/1874(2009)>.