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WMD Act Sanctions List Updated: DPRK Designations

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2024-25/75 · issued 19 Sep 2024 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates all regulated entities to update their compliance systems with the latest UNSC 1718 sanctions list amendments for DPRK, effective immediately. This ensures adherence to Section 12A of the WMD Act, 2005.
Sanctions-list safety note. This circular refers to a specific UN Security Council / UAPA designated-entities list update as it stood on the date above — sanctions lists change often, and a newer update almost certainly exists today. Never use this page, or any single dated circular, as your current screening list. Always screen against the live, current list at the official UAPA proscribed-organisations list and the UN Consolidated List, and confirm the obligations for your bank on the official rbi.org.in source below.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

Aisha, a sanctions screening officer at a bank in Mumbai, received the updated UNSC 1718 list amendments for DPRK. She immediately updated the bank's sanctions screening database and ensured that the daily verification of the UNSCR 1718 Sanctions List was done from the MEA website and the UN Security Council website. She also reviewed and aligned the bank's KYC/AML procedures with the amended designated list under Section 12A of the WMD Act, and communicated the changes to her compliance and operations teams for immediate implementation.

What changed

The UNSC Committee under resolution 1718 amended an entry on its Sanctions List for individuals and entities related to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. RBI has communicated these changes, marked with strikethrough and underline, to all regulated entities, updating the designated list referenced in the September 1, 2023 Order.

What it means for you

Banks and other regulated entities must immediately update their sanctions screening databases to reflect the latest UNSC 1718 list amendments. Failure to comply could lead to regulatory action, as this is part of India's obligations under the WMD Act and UNSC resolutions. The circular reinforces the daily verification requirement for the UNSCR 1718 sanctions list.

What you must do

Who it affects

All regulated entities (banks, NBFCs, payment systems, etc.), Compliance and AML/KYC departments, Sanctions screening and transaction monitoring teams

❓ Common questions

What is the source of the updated sanctions list?

The UN Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) has amended its Sanctions List for DPRK. The latest version is available on the UN Security Council website.

How often should we check the sanctions list?

As per RBI's Master Direction on KYC, regulated entities must verify the UNSCR 1718 Sanctions List every day to account for any additions, deletions, or other changes.

What happens if we don't comply with this circular?

Non-compliance may result in regulatory action, as this circular is part of India's legal framework under the WMD Act, 2005, and UNSC resolutions. Meticulous compliance is mandatory.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2024-25/75 DOR.AML.REC.43/14.06.001/2024-25 September 19, 2024 The Chairpersons/ CEOs of all the Regulated Entities Madam/Dear Sir, Implementation of Section 12A of the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005: Designated List (Amendments) Please refer to Section 52 of our Master Direction on Know Your Customer dated February 25, 2016 as amended on January 04, 2024 (MD on KYC), in terms of which, inter alia, “Regulated Entities (REs) shall ensure meticulous compliance with the “Procedure for Implementation of Section 12A of the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005” laid down in terms of Section 12A of the WMD Act, 2005 vide Order dated September 01, 2023, by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India (Annex III of the Master Direction on Know Your Customer ).” 2. Further, in terms of Section 53 of our MD on KYC “the REs shall verify every day, the ‘UNSCR 1718 Sanctions List of Designated Individuals and Entities‘, as available at https://www.mea.gov.in/Implementation-of-UNSC-Sanctions-DPRK.htm , to take into account any modifications to the list in terms of additions, deletions or other changes and also ensure compliance with the ‘Implementation of Security Council Resolution on Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Order, 2017’, as amended from time to time by the Central Government” 3. A reference is also invited to our circular DOR.AML.REC.23/14.06.001/2023-24 dated July 04, 2023 , communicating thereby the Consolidated Lists of UNSC Designated / Sanctioned Individuals and Entities under the UNSC Resolutions relating to non-proliferation. Amendments to the entries in the Lists are carried out from time to time. The last such amendment was notified vide our circular DOR.AML.REC.14/14.06.001/2024-25 dated April 16, 2024 . 4. In this regard, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), GoI has informed that the UNSC Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) has enacted the amendments, specified with strikethrough and/or underline in an entry on its Sanctions List of individuals and entities ( enclosed with this circular). Hence, the ‘designated list’ as referred in Paragraph 2.1 and other relevant paragraphs of the aforementioned Order dated September 01, 2023 is amended in accordance with the changes in the relevant entry. 5. The latest version of the UNSC Sanctions list on DPRK is accessible on the UN Security Council’s website at the following URLs: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1718 6. The REs are advised to take note of the aforementioned communications and ensure meticulous compliance. Yours faithfully, (Veena Srivastava) Chief General Manager Encl: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2024-25/75 · issued 19 Sep 2024. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Who does what — compliance checklist
⚙️ Operations
  • Communicate these changes to your compliance and operations teams for immediate implementation.
💻 IT / Systems
  • Update your sanctions screening systems with the latest UNSC 1718 list amendments for DPRK, as enclosed in the circular.
📜 Compliance
  • Ensure daily verification of the UNSCR 1718 Sanctions List from the MEA website and the UN Security Council website.
  • Review and align your KYC/AML procedures with the amended designated list under Section 12A of the WMD Act.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are an IT/Systems lead at a bank this circular applies to (All regulated entities (banks, NBFCs, payment systems, etc.), Compliance and AML/KYC departments, Sanctions screening and transaction monitoring teams), your first concrete step on “WMD Act Sanctions List Updated: DPRK Designations” is: “Update your sanctions screening systems with the latest UNSC 1718 list amendments for DPRK, as enclosed in the circular.” (RBI issued this 19 Sep 2024).

  1. Circular: RBI/2024-25/75 -- WMD Act Sanctions List Updated: DPRK Designations
  2. Issued: 19 Sep 2024
  3. Action required: Update your sanctions screening systems with the latest UNSC 1718 list amendments for DPRK, as enclosed in the circular.
  4. Action required: Ensure daily verification of the UNSCR 1718 Sanctions List from the MEA website and the UN Security Council website.
  5. Action required: Review and align your KYC/AML procedures with the amended designated list under Section 12A of the WMD Act.
  6. Action required: Communicate these changes to your compliance and operations teams for immediate implementation.
  7. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  8. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  9. Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.

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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=12733&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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