Foreign policy and sanctions

Executive Order 13687: Imposing Additional Sanctions With Respect To North Korea

President: Barack Obama

Authorized sanctions against North Korean officials and entities and people supporting the government, weapons programs or serious abuses.

Status: In effect.

Is Executive Order 13687 still in effect? Yes. Active North Korea sanctions authority implemented in 31 CFR part 510 and supplemented by later orders and statutes.

What does Executive Order 13687 do?

EO 13687 expanded the North Korea sanctions toolkit after cyber and proliferation concerns. It authorized Treasury to block the property of North Korean government and Workers’ Party entities and officials, their supporters, and people involved in specified conduct, while suspending entry of designated persons. EO 13722 and EO 13810, along with later statutes, broadened the program; OFAC continues to list EO 13687 as a current authority under 31 CFR part 510.

Administration position: The order creates designation authority rather than automatically blocking every person of North Korean nationality; OFAC listings, ownership rules and licenses determine particular cases.
SignedJanuary 2, 2015
Regulations31 CFR part 510
AuthoritiesIEEPA and National Emergencies Act

Before and after

Before the order

Existing orders restricted North Korean weapons proliferation and transactions but offered a narrower designation framework.

After the order

Treasury could target a broader range of North Korean officials, entities and supporters.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Treasury OFACDesignate persons issue licenses and enforceContinuing
State DepartmentConsult on designations and entry restrictionsContinuing
US personsBlock property and avoid prohibited dealingsContinuing

What happened next

EO 13687 expanded sanctions authority.

EO 13722 imposed broader blocking and transaction rules.

EO 13810 added further authorities.