North Korea is conducting large-scale smuggling operations such as importing Chinese oil and selling coal and sand to keep the economy in a short'rest' due to the new coronavirus infectious disease pandemic, the US NBC broadcast reported on the 25th of the local time.

North Korea resumed sanctions violations after a temporary'corona19 lull,' which is happening in China's eyes.

NBC says a number of sanctions evasion operations rely on ghost companies registered in China, and radar and coast guard ships are being tracked within China's territorial waters, where tight patrols are being followed closely.

It is unlikely that China, which has made large investments in naval and coast guards in recent years, is unable to detect or prevent North Korea's transportation using large-scale barges, Nil Watts, a former United Nations sanctions committee on North Korea, told NBC.

"It is difficult to imagine that they (China) are not capable of stopping these illegal activities by North Korea," said former UN sanctions committee member North Korea.

Despite the U.S.'s biggest pressure on North Korea, the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is refusing to step down from his arms, and North Korea's economy shows no signs of a collapse.

In this regard, a State Department spokesman said, "We demand that all UN member states comply with the obligations of the United Nations Security Council resolution and fully implement and enforce UN sanctions." Delivered.

Prior to the end of the year, 43 other countries including the United States and the United Nations have already exceeded the upper limit on imports of refined products specified in the Security Council resolution on sanctions against North Korea through illegal activities, etc. Reuters reported on the previous day that it called for immediate action.

Our government is also known to have joined.

Although temporary, NBC said Corona 19 had more impact than the United Nations sanctions on North Korea's illegal trade issues.

The broadcast reported by experts who quoted satellite photographs of idle ships saying that the blockade had affected illegal trade between the two countries for two to three months this year as the border between the North and the China was blocked and inspection measures were introduced in the port. I did.

However, despite North Korea's sanctions, the smuggling activity resumed by carrying coal to Chinese ports, said James Byrne of the Royal Joint Military Research Institute, a British security think tank, to NBC.

NBC has also cited reports from the recently released media, NK Pro, which monitors the North Korean situation, and reports from the Royal Ham Dong Military Research Institute.

Based on satellite photos and radio signals from ships, at least 17 ships linked to North Korea used the coal trade route between North Korea and the Zhoushan Islands in Zhejiang Province, China.

According to a satellite image, a Chinese government vessel resembling a coast guard vessel was caught passing near the North Korean bulk carrier Taepyeongho in May near the Zhoushan Islands.

"Coal transport is usually within sight of the Chinese authorities," said Researcher Berne. "There are many early warning radars, coast guard ships, law enforcement ships, etc.. Large vessels cannot enter the Chinese waters without their knowledge." "I said.

Watts said commercial satellite images captured transshipments in China's territorial waters, making it difficult for foreign governments and the United Nations to track.

NBC said that since Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam have restricted sand exports due to environmental problems, North Korea has also actively used the increased demand for sand to generate profits. He also cited the contents of the report of the Advanced Defense Research Center of the Think Tank, which was transferred to.

The reason is that sand is profitable due to high demand in China.

UN sanctions also ban North Korea's exports of sand.

Despite the Trump administration's biggest pressure strategy and diplomatic attempts, including the failed Hanoi summit, North Korea builds nuclear facilities, expands fissile materials for nuclear weapons, tests missiles and develops infrastructure for missile programs. The United Nations and US officials have been quoted and reported.

"The core is that we are in a worse and more dangerous situation today," said Frank Um, a senior researcher at the American Peace Research Institute. "There is no control over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. At this point, the maximum pressure strategy has not achieved anything." I pointed out.

(Photo = Chosun Central Communication)