North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervises large-scale artillery drills in the West Coast Region on the 18th, as reported by Chosun Central News on the 19th. [Photo=Yonhap News]
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the 27th, the first South Korea-U.S. Enhanced Disruption Task Force meeting was held on the 26th (local time) in Washington, D.C.
From our side, Lee Jun Il, Head of the North Korean Nuclear Diplomacy Planning Team at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participated, while from the U.S. side, Lyn Debevoise, Acting Deputy Special Representative for North Korea in the State Department, served as the chief representative. Around 30 officials responsible for diplomacy, intelligence, sanctions, and maritime disruption from relevant departments and agencies of both South Korea and the United States also attended.
During this meeting, they evaluated the implementation status of North Korean sanctions in the maritime sector by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). They discussed in detail the cooperation between South Korea and the United States and the international community’s cooperation to block North Korea’s smuggling of refined oil.
However, according to the annual report of the UN Security Council’s Panel of Experts on North Korea sanctions on the 21st, it was revealed that North Korea continues to evade sanctions by utilizing various methods and illegal transshipment networks, with an estimated import of over 1.5 million barrels of refined oil from January to September last year.
In light of this, both parties assessed that a significant portion of the refined oil smuggling into North Korea is facilitated through illicit cooperation with domestic companies and individuals. They notably agreed to actively consider imposing independent sanctions on entities and individuals involved in North Korea’s refined oil smuggling.
Additionally, both countries expressed concerns about Russia supplying refined oil to North Korea and discussed measures to halt illegal cooperation. They also strongly urged Russia to comply with the UN Security Council resolutions.
Both parties agreed to convene the second meeting in Seoul at an appropriate time within the year. During the second meeting, they plan to strengthen cooperation to block North Korea’s illicit oil smuggling and effectively discuss measures to prevent North Korea’s illegal fundraising.
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