US "North Korea, smuggling 400 billion coal"… Pressing China to implement sanctions against North Korea

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US government estimates that North Korea made about 400 billion won by smuggling coal, a UN sanctioned item, to China this year.

In recent years, exports are being made openly at all, and repeatedly urged the Chinese government to implement sanctions against North Korea.

Correspondent Yunsoo Kim reports from Washington.

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is a satellite image released by the US State Department.

Three or four cargo ships with North Korean flags were caught off the coast of Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China.

On June 19, a ship with a Chinese flag was also photographed loading coal at Nampo Port in North Korea.

In 2017, the United Nations Security Council sanctioned coal exports from North Korea.

The US State Department explained that North Korea has been exporting coal to China in recent years, unlike sanctions evasion techniques such as ship-to-ship transfers from sea to ships or using foreign ships.

During the past year, it is estimated that North Korea's coal smuggling to China has ranged from 350 billion won to 440 billion won.

The US government has repeatedly urged China to implement sanctions against North Korea.

White House National Security Adviser O'Brien said China continues to allow North Korean workers to flow in and remittances, and urges them to fulfill their obligations as a member of the UN Security Council.

Earlier, the US State Department launched an Internet site that rewards up to $5 million for reports of evading sanctions against North Korea.

"The increase in illegal trade between North Korea and China will be a special challenge for the Biden administration, which begins its tenure early next year," the US media predicted.