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Decision XXXII/6: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Noting that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea ratified the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer on 24 January 1995, the London and Copenhagen amendments to the Protocol on 17 June 1999, the Montreal and Beijing amendments on 13 December 2001, and the Kigali Amendment on 21 September 2017, and is classified as a party operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Protocol,

Noting also that the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol has approved $23,569,025 from the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol in accordance with Article 10 of the Protocol to enable the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to achieve compliance with the Protocol,

Noting further that the annual consumption of 72.27 ODP-tonnes of the controlled substances in Annex C, group I (hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)) in 2019 by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea exceeds the party’s maximum allowable consumption of 70.2 ODP-tonnes for controlled substances for that year and that the party was therefore in non‑compliance with consumption control measures under the Protocol for HCFCs,

Noting that the annual production of 26.95 ODP-tonnes of HCFCs in 2019 by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea exceeds the party’s maximum allowable production of 24.8 ODP-tonnes for controlled substances for that year and that the party was therefore in non‑compliance with production control measures under the Protocol for HCFCs,

Noting also the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,

  1. To note with appreciation the submission by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of an explanation for its non-compliance and a plan of action to ensure its return to compliance with the Protocol’s HCFC consumption control measures and production control measures in 2023;
  2. To note that, under that plan of action, without prejudice to the operation of the financial mechanism of the Protocol, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea specifically commits itself to the following:
    1. Reducing its consumption of HCFCs from 72.27 ODP-tonnes in 2019 and 2020 to no greater than the following levels:
      1. 58.00 ODP-tonnes in 2021;
      2. 58.00 ODP-tonnes in 2022;
      3. 33.20 ODP-tonnes in 2023;
      4. Levels allowed under the Montreal Protocol in 2024 and subsequent years;
    1. Reducing its production of HCFCs from 26.95 ODP-tonnes in 2019 and 2020 to no greater than the following levels:
      1. 24.80 ODP-tonnes in 2021;
      2. 24.80 ODP-tonnes in 2022;
      3. 0 ODP-tonnes in 2023;
      4. Levels allowed under the Montreal Protocol in 2024 and subsequent years;
  3. To urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to work with the relevant implementing agencies to explore options for the implementation of its plan of action to phase out the consumption and production of HCFCs subject to the application of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions;
  4. To closely monitor the progress of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea with regard to the implementation of its plan of action and the phase-out of HCFCs. To the extent that the party is working towards and meeting specific Protocol control measures, it should continue to be treated in the same manner as a party in good standing. In that regard, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea should continue to be eligible to receive appropriate assistance to enable it to meet those commitments in accordance with item A of the indicative list of measures that may be taken by a Meeting of the Parties in respect of non‑compliance with the Protocol, subject to the application of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions;
  5. To invite the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to establish additional national policies facilitating HCFC phase-out that may include, but will not be limited to, bans on imports, on production or on new installations, and certification of refrigeration technicians and companies;
  6. To caution the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in accordance with item B of the indicative list of measures that may be taken by the Meeting of the Parties in respect of non‑compliance, that, in the event that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea fails to return to compliance, the parties will consider measures consistent with item C of the indicative list of measures. Those measures may include the possibility of actions available under Article 4, such as ensuring that the supply of HCFCs that are the subject of non‑compliance is ceased so that exporting parties do not contribute to a continuing situation of non‑compliance.