The North Korea-based joint venture PyongSu Pharmaceutical will seek an exemption to current UN Security Council (UNSC) sanctions preventing the entity’s operation, Managing Director Remy Lardinois told NK News on Thursday.

UNSC Resolution 2375, adopted unanimously in September, prohibits the opening, maintenance, and operation of joint ventures or cooperative entities with North Korean entities or individuals. Member states have 120 days – until January 9 – to comply.

PyongSu is seeking permission from the UN’s 1718 committee to continue operations of the company in line with two provisions in Resolution 2375.

“Using the exemption option mentioned in Paragraph 18, and humanitarian