North Korea freighter exports iron ore at Setori after marine inspection in territorial waters

North Korea freighter exports iron ore at Setori after marine inspection in territorial waters December 18 at 18:54

Late last month, a North Korean cargo ship was loaded with iron ore, barred by a UN sanctions resolution, into territorial waters of Japan, and the Coast Guard headquarters was found to be conducting on-site inspections. The Coast Guard headquarters determined that the ship was `` not embargoed '' because the ship was declared to be transported within North Korea, but the ship was then heading offshore in China and experts escaped sanctions. He points out that iron ore may have been exported.

According to the 7th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, a North Korean cargo ship entered Japan's territorial waters offshore of Iki City, Nagasaki Prefecture, on January 22 due to an engine failure.

When the Japan Coast Guard conducted an on-site inspection, it was loaded with iron ore that had been barred from trading by UN Security Council sanctions.

However, the coast guard headquarters deemed to be departing from the northeastern part of North Korea and heading west, and the Coast Guard Headquarters determined that "no violation of laws and regulations has been found, and transport between North Korea is not an embargoed article." The ship set sail three days later.

However, according to the website that discloses the location information of the ship, it was found that the ship did not head to western North Korea but was anchored offshore in Zhoujiang Province, Zhejiang Province, China.

It was also revealed that the ship had previously been owned by a Hong Kong company and had been sanctioned by the US government last February for involvement in North Korean smuggling.

Former member of the UN Security Council expert panel, Mr. Katsuhisa Furukawa points out that iron ore may have been exported, conducting a "separation" in which goods are transshipped offshore.

He added, "There are also restrictions within the territorial waters, and the Japan Coast Guard can only conduct cargo inspections and cannot judge whether it is an embargoed product. In order to enforce sanctions, Japan must proceed with legal and system development even if it takes time. Must ".

Settlement rampant countries are strengthening surveillance

Coal, iron, and iron ore, the major exports of North Korea and a means of earning foreign currency, have been completely banned from trading by UN Security Council sanctions by sanctions. Exports of crude oil and refined oil products to North Korea are also restricted.

However, it seems that "sanction escape" is rampant in "Settori", a method of transferring cargo from ship to ship offshore.

For this reason, each country is increasing surveillance, and not only Japan and the United States, but also Australia and Canada are cooperating to carry out vigilance surveillance activities.

Last month, a Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer confirmed that a North Korean-flagged tanker was rolling over an unknown vessel on the open sea approximately 280 km east of Shanghai, China. The government has reported to the UN Security Council.

In addition, the US Treasury has imposed unique U.S. sanctions, such as freezing assets on shipping companies in Taiwan and Hong Kong, for allegedly smuggling oil to North Korea in August by "Settori".