Date: 2025-12-16Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2558 of 15 December 2025 implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1509 concerning restrictive measures against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
**Executive Summary**
This Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2558, dated 15 December 2025, amends Regulation (EU) 2017/1509 concerning restrictive measures against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The amendments concern updates to Annexes XV and XVI of Regulation (EU) 2017/1509, and the regulation enters into force the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Amendments to Annex XV:**
* Entry 10 under natural persons designated in accordance with Article 34(4)(a) is replaced, updating the details and statement of reasons for HONG Sung-Mu.
* **Amendments to Annex XVI:**
* Entry 4 under legal persons, entities and bodies designated in accordance with Article 34(4)(a) is replaced, updating the details and other information for Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Centre.
* Entries 3 and 8 under legal persons, entities and bodies are replaced, updating the details and reasons for Maritime Administrative Bureau and Korea Paekho Trading Corporation, respectively.
* **Entry into Force:**
* The regulation enters into force the day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
**Impact Analysis**
**EU Member States**
* **Impact**:
* The regulation is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
* **Action Required**:
* Member States must implement the updated restrictive measures as outlined in the amended Annexes XV and XVI of Regulation (EU) 2017/1509.
**Designated Persons and Entities**
* **Impact**:
* HONG Sung-Mu, Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Centre, Maritime Administrative Bureau and Korea Paekho Trading Corporation face continued restrictive measures due to their involvement with DPRK's prohibited activities.
* **Action Required**:
* Compliance with restrictions, and potential legal challenges.
**Council of the European Union**
* **Impact**:
* Responsible for enforcing the restrictive measures.
* **Action Required**:
* Ensure correct amendments are made and enforced.
Key Entities Referenced
Regulation (EU) 2017/1509: Council Regulation concerning restrictive measures against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which is implemented and amended by the current regulation.
Democratic People's Republic of Korea: The target of the restrictive measures imposed by the EU regulation.
Brussels: Location where the regulation was finalized.
Maritime Administrative Bureau: An entity sanctioned for assisting in sanctions evasion related to DPRK.
Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Centre: A DPRK facility involved in producing fissile material for military uses.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/2558 16.12.2025
COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2025/2558
of 15 December 2025
implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1509 concerning restrictive measures against the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1509 of 30 August 2017 concerning restrictive measures against the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and repealing Regulation (EC) No 329/2007(1), and in particular Article 47 and 47a
thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:
(1) On 30 August 2017, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2017/1509.
(2) In accordance with Article 47a(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1509, the Council has reviewed the lists of designated
persons, entities, bodies and vessels set out in Annexes XV, XVI, XVII and XVIII to that Regulation.
(3) The restrictive measures against the persons and entities in the lists set out in Annexes XV and XVI to Regulation
(EU) 2017/1509 should be maintained. The entries for one person and three entities in those Annexes should be
updated.
(4) Regulation (EU) 2017/1509 should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Annexes XV and XVI to Regulation (EU) 2017/1509 are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.
Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 15 December 2025.
For the Council
The President
K. KALLAS
(1) OJ L 224, 31.8.2017, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/1509/oj.
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/2558/oj 1/4ANNEX
Regulation (EU) 2017/1509 is amended as follows:
(1) Annex XV is amended as follows:
(a) under the heading ‘(a) Natural persons designated in accordance with point (a) of Article 34(4)’, 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/reg_impl/2025/2558/oj
EN
OJ
L,
16.12.2025(b) under the heading ‘(b) Legal persons, entities and bodies designated in accordance with point (a) of Article 34(4)’, 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/reg_impl/2025/2558/oj
3/4
OJ
L,
16.12.2025
EN(2) In Annex XVI, under the heading ‘(b) Legal persons, entities and bodies’, 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/reg_impl/2025/2558/oj
EN
OJ
L,
16.12.2025