So what explains Seoul’s enthusiasm for the UN resolution? The Chinese agreement to it was a meaningful step in Seoul and Washington’s direction but by no means a game changer. But the South Korean government had itself upped the ante by shutting down the Kaesong Industrial Complex, in part to demonstrate to the Chinese its commitment to sanctioning the regime economically. Ever since North Korea detonated its fourth nuclear device in January, Seoul has been advocating that the only way to force the regime to decide between becoming a nuclear state and economic survival is by hurting the regime where it is most vulnerable, namely the economy. China had been the biggest skeptic of such arguments, but it finally agreed to implement sanctions of this nature. The passing of Resolution 2270 also minimized the domestic political fallout from the closure of the Kaesong Industrial complex, and it largely validated the South Korean government’s approach to North Korea to the domestic audience.

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