U.S. Targets Six Vessels in UN Effort to Uncover North Korea's Evasion of Sanctions

The U.S. is gearing up to nominate several ships for sanctions designation due to their involvement in breaching UN restrictions against North Korea.This move follows a revealing report from the Open Source Center (OSC) that sheds light on extensive maritime evasion tactics.

During a recent briefing at the UN Security Council in New York, Ambassador Dorothy Shea, the Acting U.S. Representative, pointed out how North korea has been systematically flouting these sanctions through illegal coal and iron ore shipments. The OSC’s findings spotlighted six vessels—ARMANI, CARTIER, CASIO, SOPHIA, YI LI 1, and AN YU—that have been linked to these illicit activities. These ships reportedly made at least 18 trips with 17 of those docking in various Chinese ports like Dalian and Jingtang.

What’s notably concerning is how these vessels have employed advanced evasion strategies—turning off their AIS signals and sending out false location data to mislead authorities into thinking they were operating from russian ports while actually loading cargo back home in North Korea. The total value of these shipments could exceed $33 million—a sum that might be funneled into bolstering North Korea’s weapons initiatives.This announcement comes on the heels of last year’s veto by Russia (with China backing) against renewing the mandate for the 1718 Committee Panel of Experts—a group crucial for monitoring sanctions compliance. Despite this hurdle, Ambassador Shea expressed optimism about collaborating with other Security Council members to restore this oversight body.Additionally,it was revealed that since September 2023 alone,North Korea has shipped over 24,000 containers filled with munitions and more than a hundred ballistic missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine—an act that blatantly contravenes multiple UN resolutions.“Folks,” Ambassador Shea emphasized during her address, “it’s imperative we tackle these serious violations head-on despite attempts by Russia and China to hinder updates on our sanctions list.” She called upon all member states of the UN to adhere strictly to resolution 2397—which mandates seizing and inspecting any vessels suspected of engaging in prohibited activities—and urged flag registries worldwide not just to turn a blind eye but actively de-flag any ships involved in such evasive maneuvers.

Stay updated with daily insights into maritime affairs by subscribing! Join our community today!