<Anchor> The
news that North Korea has violated UN sanctions and is smuggling a large amount of coal to China, yesterday (8th) at this time, the US government imposed sanctions on companies and ships involved.
This is Kim Yoon-soo, correspondent in Washington.
<Reporter> The
US Treasury Department's Overseas Asset Control Office said it would sanction six companies and four ships in relation to North Korea's coal transportation.
Trading companies and shipping companies in Pyongyang, China, Hong Kong and Vietnam, as well as ships linked to these companies were subject to sanctions.
According to the resolution of the United Nations Security Council in July 2017, the export of North Korean coal was completely banned.
The US Treasury Department said coal exports are the main source of income in support of North Korea's weapons of mass destruction program, and pointed out that the North Korean regime is mobilizing forced labor in camps to do this.
The U.S. Treasury Department said China-based companies continue to be involved in sanctions violations, and emphasized that Chinese authorities should take action against them.
Earlier, the US State Department released satellite images of a cargo ship carrying coal between North Korea and China.
During the past year, it was estimated that North Korea's coal smuggling to China has ranged from 350 billion won to 440 billion won.
The US State Department has also launched an Internet site that rewards up to $5 million for reports of evasion of sanctions against North Korea aimed at illegal transactions between North Korea and China.
Although his tenure is only 40 days left, the Trump administration has recently raised the level of pressure on China through sanctions against North Korea.