31 C.F.R. § 510.201

Current through September 30, 2024

Section 510.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property

(a)

(1) All property and interests in property that are in the United States, that come within the United States, or that are or come within the possession or control of any U.S. person of the Government of North Korea or the Workers' Party of Korea are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in.

(2) All property and interests in property of North Korea or a North Korean national that were blocked pursuant to the Trading With the Enemy Act as of June 16, 2000 and remained blocked on June 26, 2008, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in.

(3) All property and interests in property that are in the United States, that come within the United States, or that are or come within the possession or control of any U.S. person of the following persons are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in:

(i)E.O. 13551 Annex. The persons listed in the Annex to Executive Order 13551 of August 30, 2010;

(ii)E.O. 13551. Any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State:

(A) To have, directly or indirectly, imported, exported, or reexported to, into, or from North Korea any arms or related materiel;

(B) To have, directly or indirectly, provided training, advice, or other services or assistance, or engaged in financial transactions, related to the manufacture, maintenance, or use of any arms or related materiel to be imported, exported, or reexported to, into, or from North Korea, or following their importation, exportation, or reexportation to, into, or from North Korea;

(C) To have, directly or indirectly, imported, exported, or reexported luxury goods to or into North Korea;

(D) To have, directly or indirectly, engaged in money laundering, the counterfeiting of goods or currency, bulk cash smuggling, narcotics trafficking, or other illicit economic activity that involves or supports the Government of North Korea or any senior official thereof;

(E) To have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the activities described in paragraphs (a)(3)(ii)(A) through (D) of this section or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to paragraph (a)(3)(i) or (ii) of this section;

(F) To be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to paragraph (a)(3)(i) or (ii) of this section; or

(G) To have attempted to engage in any of the activities described in paragraphs (a)(3)(ii)(A) through (F) of this section;

(iii)E.O. 13687. Any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State:

(A) To be an agency, instrumentality, or controlled entity of the Government of North Korea or the Workers' Party of Korea;

(B) To be an official of the Government of North Korea;

(C) To be an official of the Workers' Party of Korea;

(D) To have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the Government of North Korea or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to paragraph (a)(3)(iii) of this section; or

(E) To be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Government of North Korea or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to paragraph (a)(3)(iii) of this section;

(iv)E.O. 13722. Any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State:

(A) To operate in any industry in the North Korean economy as may be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to be subject to paragraph (a)(3)(iv) of this section, such as transportation, mining, energy, or financial services;

Note 1 to paragraph (a)(3)(iv)(A): Any industry in the North Korean economy that is determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to be subject to paragraph (a)(3)(iv) of this section will be so identified in a publication in the FEDERAL REGISTER.

(B) To have sold, supplied, transferred, or purchased, directly or indirectly, to or from North Korea or any person acting for or on behalf of the Government of North Korea or the Workers' Party of Korea, metal, graphite, coal, or software, where any revenue or goods received may benefit the Government of North Korea or the Workers' Party of Korea, including North Korea's nuclear or ballistic missile programs;

(C) To have engaged in, facilitated, or been responsible for an abuse or violation of human rights by the Government of North Korea or the Workers' Party of Korea or any person acting for or on behalf of either such entity;

(D) To have engaged in, facilitated, or been responsible for the exportation of workers from North Korea, including exportation to generate revenue for the Government of North Korea or the Workers' Party of Korea;

(E) To have engaged in significant activities undermining cybersecurity through the use of computer networks or systems against targets outside of North Korea on behalf of the Government of North Korea or the Workers' Party of Korea;

(F) To have engaged in, facilitated, or been responsible for censorship by the Government of North Korea or the Workers' Party of Korea;

(G) To have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(3)(iv) of this section;

(H) To be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(3)(iv) of this section; or

(I) To have attempted to engage in any of the activities described in paragraphs (a)(3)(iv)(A) through (H) of this section;

(v)E.O. 13810 section 1. Any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State:

(A) To operate in the construction, energy, financial services, fishing, information technology, manufacturing, medical, mining, textiles, or transportation industries in North Korea;

(B) To own, control, or operate any port in North Korea, including any seaport, airport, or land port of entry;

(C) To have engaged in at least one significant importation from or exportation to North Korea of any goods, services, or technology;

(D) To be a North Korean person, including a North Korean person that has engaged in commercial activity that generates revenue for the Government of North Korea or the Workers' Party of Korea;

(E) To have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to paragraph (a)(3)(v) of this section; or

(F) To be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to paragraph (a)(3)(v) of this section;

(vi)E.O. 13810 section 4. Any person that is a foreign financial institution:

(A) Determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to have, on or after September 21, 2017, knowingly conducted or facilitated any significant transaction:

(1) On behalf of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13551, Executive Order 13687, Executive Order 13722, or Executive Order 13810, or of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13382 in connection with North Korea-related activities; or

(2) In connection with trade with North Korea; and

(B) With respect to which the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, has exercised the authority to block all property and interests in property;

Note 2 to paragraph (a)(3)(vi): See § 510.210 for alternative sanctions that can be imposed on a foreign financial institution when the determination specified in paragraph (a)(3)(vi)(A) of this section is made.

(vii)Section 104(a) of the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016, as amended by the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NKSPEA, as amended). Any person the Secretary of the Treasury determines, in consultation with the Secretary of State, knowingly:

(A) Directly or indirectly, imports, exports, or reexports to, into, or from North Korea any goods, services, or technology controlled for export by the United States because of the use of such goods, services, or technology for weapons of mass destruction or delivery systems for such weapons and materially contributes to the use, development, production, possession, or acquisition by any person of a nuclear, radiological, chemical, or biological weapon or any device or system designed in whole or in part to deliver such a weapon;

(B) Directly or indirectly, provides training, advice, or other services or assistance, or engages in significant financial transactions, relating to the manufacture, maintenance, or use of any such weapon, device, or system to be imported, exported, or reexported to, into, or from North Korea;

(C) Directly or indirectly, imports, exports, or reexports luxury goods to or into North Korea;

(D) Engages in, is responsible for, or facilitates censorship by the Government of North Korea;

(E) Engages in, is responsible for, or facilitates serious human rights abuses by the Government of North Korea;

(F) Directly or indirectly, engages in money laundering, the counterfeiting of goods or currency, bulk cash smuggling, or narcotics trafficking that supports the Government of North Korea or any senior official or person acting for or on behalf of that Government;

(G) Engages in significant activities undermining cybersecurity through the use of computer networks or systems against foreign persons, governments, or other entities on behalf of the Government of North Korea;

(H) Directly or indirectly, sells, supplies, or transfers to or from the Government of North Korea or any person acting for or on behalf of that Government, a significant amount of precious metal, graphite, raw or semi-finished metals or aluminum, steel, coal, or software, for use by or in industrial processes directly related to weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems for such weapons, other proliferation activities, the Korean Workers' Party, armed forces, internal security or intelligence activities, or the operation and maintenance of political prison camps or forced labor camps, including outside of North Korea;

(I) Directly or indirectly, imports, exports, or reexports to, into, or from North Korea any arms or related materiel or any defense article or defense service (as such terms are defined in section 47 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2794 ));

(J) Directly or indirectly, purchases or otherwise acquires from North Korea any significant amounts of gold, titanium ore, vanadium ore, copper, silver, nickel, zinc, or rare earth minerals;

(K) Directly or indirectly, sells or transfers to North Korea any significant amounts of rocket, aviation, or jet fuel (except for use by a civilian passenger aircraft outside North Korea, exclusively for consumption during its flight to North Korea or its return flight);

(L) Directly or indirectly, provides significant amounts of fuel or supplies, provides bunkering services, or facilitates a significant transaction or transactions to operate or maintain, a vessel or aircraft that is designated under an applicable Executive order or an applicable United Nations Security Council resolution (as such terms are defined in NKSPEA, as amended), or that is owned or controlled by a person designated under an applicable Executive order or applicable United Nations Security Council resolution (as such terms are defined in NKSPEA, as amended);

(M) Directly or indirectly, insures, registers, facilitates the registration of, or maintains insurance or a registration for, a vessel owned or controlled by the Government of North Korea, except as specifically approved by the United Nations Security Council;

(N) Directly or indirectly, maintains a correspondent account as defined in section 201A(d)(1) of NKSPEA, as amended, with any North Korean financial institution, except as specifically approved by the United Nations Security Council; or

(O) Attempts to engage in any of the conduct described in paragraphs (a)(3)(vii)(A) through (N) of this section;

(viii)Section 104(b) of NKSPEA, as amended. Any person the Secretary of the Treasury determines, in consultation with the Secretary of State, knowingly:

(A) Engages in, contributes to, assists, sponsors, or provides financial, material, or technological support for, or goods and services in support of, any person designated pursuant to: An applicable United Nations Security Council resolution (as defined in NKSPEA, as amended); this section; or any applicable Executive order (as defined in NKSPEA, as amended);

(B) Contributed to:

(1) The bribery of an official of the Government of North Korea or any person acting for on behalf of that official;

(2) The misappropriation, theft, or embezzlement of public funds by, or for the benefit of, an official of the Government of North Korea or any person acting for or on behalf of that official; or

(3) The use of any proceeds of any activity described in paragraph (a)(3)(viii)(B)(1) or (2) of this section;

(C) Materially assisted, sponsored, or provided significant financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the activities described in paragraph (a)(3)(viii)(A) or (B) of this section;

(D) Directly or indirectly, purchased or otherwise acquired from the Government of North Korea significant quantities of coal, iron, or iron ore, in excess of the limitations provided in applicable United Nations Security Council resolutions (as defined in NKSPEA, as amended);

(E) Directly or indirectly, purchased or otherwise acquired significant types or amounts of textiles from the Government of North Korea;

(F) Facilitated a significant transfer of funds or property of the Government of North Korea that materially contributes to any violation of an applicable United Nations Security Council resolution (as defined in NKSPEA, as amended);

(G) Directly or indirectly, facilitated a significant transfer to or from the Government of North Korea of bulk cash, precious metals, gemstones, or other stores of value not described under paragraph (a)(3)(vii)(J) of this section;

(H) Directly or indirectly, sold, transferred, or otherwise provided significant amounts of crude oil, condensates, refined petroleum, other types of petroleum or petroleum byproducts, liquefied natural gas, or other natural gas resources to the Government of North Korea (except for heavy fuel oil, gasoline, or diesel fuel for humanitarian use or as excepted under paragraph (a)(3)(vii)(K) of this section);

(I) Directly or indirectly, engaged in, facilitated, or was responsible for the online commercial activities of the Government of North Korea, including online gambling;

(J) Directly or indirectly, purchased or otherwise acquired fishing rights from the Government of North Korea;

(K) Knowingly, directly or indirectly, purchased or otherwise acquired significant types or amounts of food or agricultural products from the Government of North Korea;

(L) Directly or indirectly, engaged in, facilitated, or was responsible for the exportation of workers from North Korea in a manner intended to generate significant revenue, directly or indirectly, for use by the Government of North Korea or by the Workers' Party of Korea;

(M) Conducted a significant transaction or transactions in North Korea's transportation, mining, energy, or financial services industries; or

(N) Facilitated the operation of any branch, subsidiary, or office of a North Korean financial institution, except as specifically approved by the United Nations Security Council, and other than through a correspondent account as described in paragraph (a)(3)(vii)(N) of this section;

(ix)Section 104(g) of NKSPEA, as amended. Any person the Secretary of the Treasury determines, in consultation with the Secretary of State, knowingly:

(A) Directly or indirectly, engages in the importation from or exportation to North Korea of significant quantities of:

(1) Coal, textiles, seafood, iron, or iron ore;

(2) Refined petroleum products or crude oil above limits set by the United Nations Security Council and with which the United States concurs; or

(3) Services or technology related to goods specified in paragraph (a)(3)(ix)(A)(1) and (2) of this section;

(B) Facilitates a significant transfer of funds or property of the Government of North Korea that materially contributes to any violation of an applicable United Nations Security Council resolution (as defined in NKSPEA, as amended);

(C) Directly or indirectly, engages in, facilitates, or is responsible for the exportation of workers from North Korea, or the employment of such workers, in a manner that generates significant revenue, directly or indirectly, for use by the Government of North Korea or by the Workers' Party of Korea;

(D) Directly or indirectly, sells or transfers a significant number of vessels to North Korea, except as specifically approved by the United Nations Security Council;

(E) Engages in a significant activity to charter, insure, register, facilitate the registration of, or maintain insurance or a registration for, a vessel owned, controlled, commanded, or crewed by a North Korean person; or

(F) Contributes to and participates in:

(1) A significant act of bribery of an official of the Government of North Korea or any person acting for or on behalf of that official;

(2) The misappropriation, theft, or embezzlement of a significant amount of public funds by, or for the benefit of, an official of the Government of North Korea or any person acting for or on behalf of that official; or

(3) The use of any proceeds of any activity described in paragraph (a)(3)(ix)(A) or (B) of this section; or

(x)Section 201B of NKSPEA, as amended. Any foreign financial institution that the Secretary of the Treasury determines, in consultation with the Secretary of State, knowingly, on or after April 18, 2020, provides significant financial services to any person designated for the imposition of sanctions with respect to North Korea described in paragraphs (a)(3)(vii) through (ix) of this section and under an applicable Executive order (as defined in NKSPEA, as amended) or an applicable United Nations Security Council resolution (as defined in NKSPEA, as amended), and with respect to which the Secretary of the Treasury has exercised the authority to block all property and interests in property.

Note 3 to paragraph (a)(3)(x): See§ 510.210(c) for alternative sanctions that can be imposed on a foreign financial institution when the determination specified in paragraph (a)(3)(x) of this section is made.

Note 4 to paragraph (a): The names of persons listed in or designated or identified pursuant to E.O. 13551, E.O. 13687, E.O. 13722, or E.O. 13810 and whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to those orders and who are referenced in paragraph (a) of this section are published in the FEDERAL REGISTER and incorporated into OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) with the following identifiers: for E.O. 13551: "[DPRK];" for E.O. 13687: "[DPRK2];" for E.O. 13722: "[DPRK3];" and for E.O. 13810: "[DPRK4]." The names of persons designated or identified pursuant to NKSPEA, as amended, will be incorporated into the SDN List with the identifier "[DPRK-NKSPEA]." Certain transactions with persons blocked pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, or blocked pursuant to other parts of 31 CFR chapter V in connection with North Korea-related activities, may result in the imposition of secondary sanctions, and therefore such blocked persons' entries on the SDN List will also include the descriptive prefix text "Secondary sanctions risk:", followed by information about the applicable secondary sanctions authority. Pursuant to § 510.214 , persons owned or controlled by a U.S. financial institution are subject to certain prohibitions under this part; as a result, the entries of persons blocked pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, or blocked pursuant to other parts of 31 CFR chapter V in connection with North Korea-related activities, will also include the descriptive prefix text "Transactions Prohibited For Persons Owned or Controlled By U.S. Financial Institutions:", followed by information about the applicable sanctions authority. The SDN List is accessible through the following page on OFAC's website: www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the SDN List can be found in appendix A to this chapter. See§ 510.411 concerning entities that may not be listed on the SDN List but whose property and interests in property are nevertheless blocked pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section. The property and interests in property of persons who meet the definition of the term Government of North Korea, as defined in § 510.311 , are blocked pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section regardless of whether the names of such persons are published in the FEDERAL REGISTER or incorporated into the SDN List.

Note 5 to paragraph (a): The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 - 1706 ), in Section 203 (50 U.S.C. 1702 ), authorizes the blocking of property and interests in property of a person during the pendency of an investigation. Except as described in note 6 to this paragraph (a), the names of persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pending investigation pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section are published in the FEDERAL REGISTER and incorporated into the SDN List with the identifier "BPI-DPRK."

Note 6 to paragraph (a): In certain cases, OFAC may issue an order to: identify as blocked specific property or interests in property of a person designated or otherwise blocked pursuant to this section; block specific property or interests in property of a person pending investigation; or block or impose other prohibitions with respect to specific property or interests in property less than full blocking sanctions. Notice of such orders will be provided: by publication in the FEDERAL REGISTER; in writing to persons OFAC may assess to have an interest in the property; or by issuing an order or directive in writing to financial institutions or other transaction intermediaries, and requiring the recipient of the order or directive to promptly disclose it to affected persons with whom the recipient maintains direct commercial relationships. Inquiries regarding any such order should be directed to OFAC's Compliance Division at 202-622-2490 or https://ofac.treasury.gov/contact-ofac.

Note 7 to paragraph (a): Subpart E of part 501 of this chapter describes the procedures to be followed for the release of property and interests in property blocked pursuant to this section, including funds blocked due to mistaken identity or typographical or similar errors, and for administrative reconsideration of one's status as a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this paragraph (a).

(b) The prohibitions in paragraph (a) of this section include prohibitions on the following transactions:

(1) The making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section; and

(2) The receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section.

(c) Unless authorized by this part or by a specific license expressly referring to this part, any dealing in securities (or evidence thereof) held within the possession or control of a U.S. person and either registered or inscribed in the name of, or known to be held for the benefit of, or issued by, the Government of North Korea, the Workers' Party of Korea, or any other person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section is prohibited. This prohibition includes the transfer (including the transfer on the books of any issuer or agent thereof), disposition, transportation, importation, exportation, or withdrawal of, or the endorsement or guaranty of signatures on, any securities on or after the effective date. This prohibition applies irrespective of the fact that at any time (whether prior to, on, or subsequent to the effective date) the registered or inscribed owner of any such securities may have or might appear to have assigned, transferred, or otherwise disposed of the securities.

(d) All funds that are in the United States, that come within the United States, or that are or come within the possession or control of any U.S. person and that originate from, are destined for, or pass through a foreign bank account that has been determined by the Secretary of the Treasury to be owned or controlled by a North Korean person, or to have been used to transfer funds in which any North Korean person has an interest, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in.

(e) Funds subject to blocking or blocking pending investigation pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section may be identified via actual or constructive notice from OFAC to relevant U.S. persons believed to be holding or to soon come into possession of such funds. To the extent a foreign bank account determined to meet the criteria contained in paragraph (d) of this section is publicized, it will be published in the FEDERAL REGISTER.

(f)

(1) The prohibitions in paragraph (a)(1) of this section apply except to the extent provided in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this part or pursuant to the export control authorities implemented by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the effective date.

(2) The prohibitions in paragraphs (a)(2), (a)(3)(i) through (iii), and (d) of this section apply except to the extent provided by regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this part, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the effective date.

(3) The prohibitions in paragraphs (a)(3)(iv) through (v) of this section apply except to the extent provided by regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this part, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the effective date. These prohibitions are in addition to the export control authorities administered by the Department of Commerce.

31 C.F.R. §510.201

83 FR 9187, Mar. 5, 2018, as amended at 84 FR 30869, June 28, 2019; 85 FR 20159, Apr. 10, 2020; 89 FR 75957, Sept. 17, 2024

83 FR 9187, 3/5/2018; as amended at 84 FR 30869, 6/28/2019; 85 FR 20159, 4/10/2020; 89 FR 75957, 9/17/2024