Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team on N. Korea sanctions holds first meeting

A new North Korean sanctions monitoring mechanism held its very first meeting in Washington D.C. this week.

According to South Korea's foreign ministry on Friday, the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team, which oversees the enforcement of sanctions against North Korea, met on Wednesday, and urged all nations to join international efforts to maintain peace and security against ongoing threats from Pyongyang.

The team consists of eleven countries including South Korea, the U.S., and Japan.

It was formed last October, after Russia vetoed the renewal of the UN Panel of Experts on North Korea.

Though the team operates outside of the UN system, it will publish reports detailing North Korea's violations of sanctions.

The first report is set to be released by South Korea in the first half of this year.