Coal eye

The United States again accused Russia of violating the regime of international sanctions against North Korea imposed in connection with its missile and nuclear tests. This was stated by the representative of the State Department Hizer Neurt

“We warned Russia about the illegal trade in North Korean coal through its ports. Russia states that it will fulfill all resolutions of the UN Security Council, but it does not apply them and encourages the illegal behavior of the DPRK. There is no more time for excuses,” Neoert wrote on Twitter.

Neuert referred to Reuters. On January 26, the agency, citing sources in the Western intelligence services, reported that last year North Korea was at least three times sent to Russia , which was then transferred to South Korea and Japan. This indicates a violation of the UN sanctions.

Coal from the DPRK was delivered to Russian ports Nakhodka and Kholmsk. There he was loaded on ships, which then transported him to South Korea and Japan. Such an operation, in particular, took place in October. "The Russian port of Nakhodka becomes a transshipment point for North Korean coal," said a source in the intelligence of one of the European countries. The US intelligence representative also confirmed coal trade through Russia continues. Last week, the US Ministry of Finance included in the sanctions list the North Korean ship JI Bong 6 for delivering coal from the DPRK to Kholmsk on September 5.

It is not known whether the owners of the courts who delivered coal from Russia to South Korea and Japan, the origin of the cargo, knew. Also, it was not established which companies benefited from coal supplies.

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is observing all international sanctions against the DPRK. “Do not listen to unnamed sources in reconnaissance circles. No, we are not going to check. We do not hear any official statements on this subject. Russia is a responsible member of the international community that complies with international rules,” Peskov answered Voprros, whether the Kremlin was going to check Reuters.

The export of North Korean coal was limited by the UN Security Council resolution , adopted in November 2016. In accordance with it, the states must monthly report the import of coal from the DPRK to the Committee on sanctions. However, Russia last year did not represent data on the import of coal from North Korea.

At the end of December last year, it became known that Russian tankers in violation of UN sanctions import oil and oil products into the DPRK . It is known about three flights undertaken in October - November. Two tankers left the port of Slavyanka in the south of Primorye, one from the find. The fuel was pumped into the North Korean vessels in the open sea. According to September data, since the beginning of 2017, at least eight North Korean ships left Russia with a burning cargo. However, in the future, such a practice was discontinued - instead, fuel is pumped in the open sea to the North Korean tankers and even fishing vessels. At the same time, it was noted that there are no evidence proving the involvement of the Russian authorities in the smuggling of oil in North Korea.

The Russian Foreign Ministry, however, after this message said that Moscow in full observance of the UN sanctions against the DPRK.

On January 18, US President Donald Trump accused Russia of helping the DPRK bypass international sanctions. “Russia does not help us at all in solving the North Korean problem,” the president noted. “Everything that China helps us, Russia comes to naught. In other words, Russia partially compensates for what North Korea deprives China.” At the same time, Trump emphasized that although China complies with restrictions on the supply of oil and coal, Beijing could do more to restrain the DPRK.