Foreign policy and sanctions

Executive Order 13551: Blocking Property of Certain Persons With Respect to North Korea

President: Barack Obama

Blocked property of designated North Korean persons and those supporting arms trade luxury goods money laundering and other prohibited activity.

Status: In effect.

Is Executive Order 13551 still in effect? Yes. Active component of the North Korea sanctions program expanded by later orders and statutes.

What does Executive Order 13551 do?

EO 13551 expanded North Korea sanctions beyond earlier weapons-proliferation measures, authorizing Treasury to designate persons involved in arms transactions, luxury-goods procurement, money laundering, counterfeiting, narcotics and support for blocked persons. Later orders broadened the program; EO 13551 remains part of OFAC’s authorities.

Administration position: Sanctions target blocked persons and prohibited dealings; they do not automatically ban every lawful humanitarian or personal transaction involving North Korea.
SignedAugust 30, 2010
AuthorityIEEPA and National Emergencies Act
AdministratorTreasury OFAC

Before and after

Before the order

EO 13466 continued selected restrictions after removal of Trading with the Enemy Act treatment.

After the order

Treasury gained wider conduct-based designation authority and transaction prohibitions.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
TreasuryDesignate persons issue licenses and enforceContinuing
US personsBlock and report covered propertyContinuing
Federal agenciesCoordinate sanctions and export controlsContinuing

What happened next

EO 13551 expanded sanctions.