Date: 2025-12-16Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/2580 of 15 December 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2016/849 concerning restrictive measures against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
**Executive Summary**
This document is a Council Decision (CFSP) from the European Union, dated December 15, 2025, which amends Decision (CFSP) 2016/849 regarding restrictive measures against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The amendments update Annexes II and III of the original decision, which list designated persons and entities. This Decision will enter into force the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Amendment of Annex II:** The entries for designated individuals are modified.
* Entry 10 in Annex II, related to individuals responsible for the DPRK's nuclear or weapons programs, is replaced, updating information for HONG Sung-Mu.
* **Amendment of Annex III:** The entries for designated entities are modified.
* Entry 4 in Annex III, related to entities responsible for the DPRK's nuclear or weapons programs, is replaced, updating information for Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Centre.
* Entries 3 and 8 in Annex III related to Maritime Administrative Bureau and Korea Paekho Trading Corporation are replaced.
**Impact Analysis**
**EU Council:**
*Impact*
The EU Council's initial decision on restrictive measures concerning the DPRK is updated.
*Action Required*
Ensure that the updated annexes (II & III) are applied regarding the designation of people and entities.
**Designated Persons and Entities:**
*Impact*
The asset freeze and travel restrictions are maintained, but information regarding their activities is updated.
*Action Required*
Continued compliance with the restrictive measures as updated.
**EU Member States:**
*Impact*
Member states need to implement and enforce the updated restrictive measures.
*Action Required*
Update national legislation and procedures to reflect the changes and ensure compliance by individuals and entities within their jurisdiction.
**Financial institutions and other entities within the EU:**
*Impact*
Entities have to comply with the asset freeze and restrictions on providing financial services to the updated designated persons and entities.
*Action Required*
Update screening processes and compliance programs to include the newly updated information.
Key Entities Referenced
Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/849: Previous decision concerning restrictive measures against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, being amended by this decision.
Democratic People's Republic of Korea: The country against which restrictive measures are being imposed or amended.
Annexes II and III to Decision (CFSP) 2016/849: Lists of designated persons and entities subject to restrictive measures, amended by the current decision.
European Union: The issuing body of the decision and the geographical area of applicability.
Brussels: Location where the decision was made.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/2580 16.12.2025
COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2025/2580
of 15 December 2025
amending Decision (CFSP) 2016/849 concerning restrictive measures against the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:
(1) On 27 May 2016, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2016/849(1).
(2) In accordance with Article 36(2) of Decision (CFSP) 2016/849, the Council has reviewed the lists of designated
persons, entities and vessels set out in Annexes II, III, V and VI to that Decision.
(3) The restrictive measures against the persons and entities in the lists set out in Annexes II and III to Decision (CFSP)
2016/849 should be maintained. The entries for one person and three entities in those Annexes should be updated.
(4) Decision (CFSP) 2016/849 should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Annexes II and III to Decision (CFSP) 2016/849 are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Done at Brussels, 15 December 2025.
For the Council
The President
K. KALLAS
(1) Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/849 of 27 May 2016 concerning restrictive measures against the Democratic People’s Republic of
Korea and repealing Decision 2013/183/CFSP (OJ L 141, 28.5.2016, p. 79, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2016/849/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/2580/oj 1/4ANNEX
Decision (CFSP) 2016/849 is amended as follows:
(1) Annex II is amended as follows:
(a) under the heading ‘I. Persons and entities responsible for the DPRK’s nuclear-related, ballistic-missile-related or other weapons of mass destruction-related programmes or persons or
entities acting on their behalf or at their direction, or entities owned or controlled by them’, subheading ‘A. Persons’, entry 10 is replaced by the following:
Date of
Name Alias Identifying information Statement of Reasons
designation
‘10. HONG Sung-Mu HONG Sung Mu DOB: 1.1.1942 20.5.2016 Vice Director of the Munitions Industry Department (MID). The MID – designated by
the UN Security Council on 2 March 2016 – is involved in key aspects of the DPRK’s
홍승무 Gender: male
missile programme. The MID is responsible for overseeing the development of the
DPRK’s ballistic missiles, including research and development programmes. As such,
Hong is responsible for the DPRK’s nuclear arms-related, ballistic-missile-related or
other weapons of mass destruction-related programmes. He witnessed the launch of
the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile on 28 November 2017.
He participated in a meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Korean
Workers’ Party in July 2020 dedicated to “deterrence from war”, a euphemism used
to refer to the DPRK nuclear programme. He was re-elected to Party Central
Committee in January 2021. In March 2023, he was photographed with Kim Jong
Un inspecting purported nuclear warheads ready for mounting on ballistic missiles,
and in September 2024, he was photographed with Kim Jong Un inspecting a DPRK
uranium enrichment facility.’
2/4
ELI:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/2580/oj
EN
OJ
L,
16.12.2025(b) under the heading ‘I. Persons and entities responsible for the DPRK’s nuclear-related, ballistic-missile-related or other weapons of mass destruction-related programmes or persons or
entities acting on their behalf or at their direction, or entities owned or controlled by them’, subheading ‘B. Entities’, entry 4 is replaced by the following:
Date of
Name Alias Location Other information
designation
‘4. Yongbyon Nuclear 22.12.2009 Facilities capable of producing fissile material for military uses, including a 5MW (e)
Scientific Research reactor, a plutonium reprocessing facility (radio-chemical laboratory), a Light Water
Centre Reactor (LWR) and a reported uranium enrichment facility. The Centre is maintained
by the General Bureau of Atomic Energy (entity designated by the UNSC, 16.7.2009).
녕변 원자력 연구소
In June 2024, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that they had
영변 원자력 연구소 observed the intermittent discharge of water from the cooling system of the LWR at
Yongbyon since December 2023, consistent with the operation of the LWR. The
IAEA also detected ongoing indications of operation of the 5MW(e) reactor and of
the reported centrifuge enrichment facility. The UN Panel of Experts, in its March
2024 report, also detected significant ongoing activity at Yongbyon. Satellite imagery
taken throughout 2025 confirmed continued operations and the completion of
several new construction projects.’
ELI:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/2580/oj
3/4
OJ
L,
16.12.2025
EN(2) In Annex III, under the heading ‘B. Entities’, entries 3 and 8 are replaced by the following:
Date of
Name (and possible aliases) Identifying information Reasons
designation
‘3. Maritime Administrative Address: Ryonhwa-2Dong, Central 16.10.2017 The Maritime Administrative Bureau has assisted in the evasion of sanctions imposed by
Bureau District, Pyongyang, DPRK the United Nations Security Council including by renaming and re-registering assets of
designated entities and providing false documentation to vessels subject to United
a.k.a. Maritime PO Box 416
Nations sanctions.
Administration of DPR
Telephone: 850-2-18111 Ex 8059
Korea
Fax 850 2 381 4410
a.k.a. DPRK National
Maritime Supervision Email: mab@silibank.net.kp
Bureau
Website: www.ma.gov.kp
조선민주주의인민공화국
국가해사감독국
8. Korea Paekho Trading Address: Chongryu 3-dong, 21.4.2022 Paekho Trading Corporation is an art company involved in constructing statues overseas,
Corporation Taedonggang District, Pyongyang, in exporting artwork statues produced by Paekho Art Studio, and facilitates illicit labour
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and access to international financial systems. It specifically targets development grants
(Alias: Joson Paekho Muyok
and loans, as well as foreign-direct investment earmarked for municipal projects. It is,
Hoesa)
thereby, engaged in the evasion of sanctions and responsible for supporting financially
조선백호무역회사 the DPRK’s nuclear and ballistic programmes. In July 2024, the company was seen
participating in a trade fair of DPRK products in Vladivostok, Russia, and in November
2024, it was seen participating in the 16th Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair.’
4/4
ELI:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/2580/oj
EN
OJ
L,
16.12.2025