The White House announced on April 2nd that Russia has been supplying North Korea with refined oil beyond the sanctioned limit imposed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). In cooperation with allies such as South Korea and Japan, the U.S. government plans to announce new sanctions against those involved in the oil trade between Russia and North Korea.
During an online briefing, John Kirby, the U.S. National Security Communications Advisor, revealed that Russia, which is at war with Ukraine and has received artillery shells from North Korea, supplied over 165,000 barrels of refined oil to North Korea in March alone.
The UNSC has limited North Korea’s annual refined oil imports to 500,000 barrels as part of sanctions to restrain North Korea’s nuclear program. Advisor Kirby stated, “Russia has been transporting refined oil from Vostochny Port to North Korea,” and “Russian shipments have already exceeded the annual limit (of 500,000 barrels) mandated by the UNSC (to prohibit excess supplies).” He added, “Considering the proximity of Russian and North Korean ports, Russia can continue this transport indefinitely.”
In March, Russia vetoed a proposal to extend the term of the expert panel monitoring the implementation of UN sanctions against North Korea. Russia’s dismissal of the expert panel is interpreted as an attempt to weaken the sanctions against North Korea and establish a long-term cooperative relationship between North Korea and Russia.
Advisor Kirby emphasized, “It is unprecedented that Russia, a permanent member of the UNSCl, broke with the long-standing denuclearization and nonproliferation commitments made by the UNSC. The U.S. will continue to impose sanctions on all those involved in this oil trade.”
With the dismissal of the expert panel leaving a hole in the network monitoring sanctions against North Korea, countries such as the U.S., South Korea, and Japan are considering establishing an independent organization to replace the expert panel. They are exploring joint sanctions against North Korea and Russia that can be implemented at the discretion of each country, even without a UNSC resolution.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated during a briefing, “The U.S. will continue to impose sanctions against those who facilitate the transfer of weapons and refined oil between Russia and North Korea. We are working with our partners, including Australia, the EU, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and the U.K., to announce new sanctions designations coordinated this month.”
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