How is North Korea evading sanctions? - BBC News

Summary

North Korea has been actively evading UN sanctions imposed due to its nuclear weapons program. The country has been smuggling coal, oil, and refined petroleum through illegal ship-to-ship transfers, often with foreign partners willing to bypass restrictions. Despite being blacklisted, North Korean ships continue these activities by turning off tracking systems. The sanctions have cost North Korea significant revenue, yet the country maintains that it can withstand international pressure. While there have been talks about lifting sanctions if North Korea halts its nuclear ambitions, the nation continues to seek ways to survive under ongoing sanctions.

Takeaways

• 😀 North Korea has been accused of violating UN sanctions, which were imposed to pressure Kim Jong-un's government over its nuclear weapons program.
• 😀 North Korea has found ways to illegally trade key resources like coal and oil, bypassing sanctions through ship-to-ship transfers.
• 😀 The UN has condemned these illegal imports of refined petroleum, which are prohibited under its resolution.
• 😀 The UN calls for accountability in cutting off North Korea's illegal coal exports, which fund its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs.
• 😀 Much of North Korea's sanction evasion occurs at sea, relying on foreign partners willing to engage in illegal trade.
• 😀 There has been a significant increase in transfers of petroleum products and coal between foreign tankers and North Korean ships.
• 😀 More than 20 North Korean ships have been blacklisted by the UN for smuggling fuel and violating sanctions.
• 😀 North Korean ships evade detection by turning off tracking systems or masking their true identities.
• 😀 North Korea has also been involved in shipping weapons; for example, in 2016, 30,000 rocket-propelled grenades were found aboard a ship bound for the Suez Canal.
• 😀 Despite international pressure, North Korea remains defiant, claiming that sanctions will not bring the country to its knees and dismissing them as a 'pipe dream.'
• 😀 Sanctions imposed in 2017 are estimated to have cost North Korea $1 billion in lost revenue, but illegal trading has generated an estimated $200 million, with the actual amount likely much higher.

Q & A

Why has North Korea been called out by the UN?

North Korea has been called out by the UN for breaking sanctions imposed to pressure Kim Jong-un's government over its nuclear weapons program.

How does North Korea evade sanctions?

North Korea evades sanctions primarily by trading key resources like coal and oil through illegal means, including ship-to-ship transfers and the use of foreign partners willing to trade illegally.

What specific illegal activities are taking place at sea to circumvent sanctions?

Illegal activities include the transfer of petroleum products and coal between foreign tankers and North Korean ships, allowing North Korea to import resources restricted under international sanctions.

What tactics do North Korean ships use to avoid detection?

North Korean ships evade detection by turning off their tracking systems or masking their vessels' true identities.

What specific incident involved North Korea shipping weapons in 2016?

In 2016, a North Korean ship carrying 30,000 rocket-propelled grenades was intercepted. The ship sailed under a Cambodian flag but was crewed by North Koreans and falsely labeled as carrying assembly parts for underwater pumps.

How has the UN responded to North Korea's illicit activities?

The UN has blacklisted over 20 North Korean ships for smuggling fuel and other illicit activities.

What is the estimated financial impact of the 2017 sanctions on North Korea?

The 2017 sanctions are estimated to have cost North Korea 1 billion dollars in lost revenue.

How much does North Korea reportedly earn from illegal trade activities?

According to the UN, North Korea earns around 200 million dollars from illegal trading, although the actual amount is likely much higher.

What is the position of North Korea regarding the effectiveness of sanctions?

North Korea believes that sanctions will not force them to submit, claiming that those who believe sanctions can bring the country to its knees are ignorant.

Is there any possibility of lifting the sanctions on North Korea?

There is a possibility that sanctions could be lifted in the future if North Korea makes progress towards ending its nuclear ambitions, as discussed in talks with Kim Jong-un.