20 Sep 2017

In the context of a few distorted media reports, the Government of Botswana takes this opportunity to affirm that it is not subject to any UN investigation for North Korea sanctions busting. 

 In this context it may be further noted that Botswana currently has no commercial ties with companies linked to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), while political ties with the Pongyang regime were severed in 2014.

It would appear that distorted news reports on the matter are derived from a misreading of UN Security Council Document N24650 of  the 5^th of September  2017, which incorporates a letter dated 28 August 2017 from the Panel of Experts established pursuant to resolution 1874 (2009) addressed to the President of the Security Council. On page 15 of the 111 page document the said Panel reports that it has written to a number of countries including Botswana inquiring about any activities in their jurisdictions involving Mansudae Overseas Projects, including Mansudae Art Studio.

Further to the above, it is a matter of public record that the said Studio was engaged in the production of the statues of Dikgosi Bathoen, Khama and Sebele in the Central Business District, which were unveiled over a decade ago, on the 29^th of September 2005. This of course predates the ongoing imposition of sanctions on North Korean entities. ENDS