US Sanctions on North Korean Coal Smuggling … “China, Implement Sanctions Against North Korea” (Second Full Report)

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The United States Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on trading companies and ships involved in smuggling coal from North Korea on the 8th (local time).

It is interpreted to have sent a message to North Korea that it will not delay control of sanctions until the end of the Donald Trump administration’s term, while at the same time increasing the level of pressure on China by implementing sanctions against Korea. from North.

The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) released a press release that day, announcing that it would sanction six companies and four ships in connection with the transportation of North Korean coal.

A company in Vietnam, including Daejin Trading Company in Pyongyang, Weihai Huijiang Trading Company in China, Silver Bridge Shipping Company in Hong Kong, and a company in Vietnam were also targeted.

In addition, four ships, including Asia Bridge, Cambridge and Lucky Star, involved in the transportation of coal from North Korea in connection with these companies were also placed on the sanctions list.

Daejin Trading Co., Ltd. has been exporting coal from North Korea since mid-2016 and has been involved in the North Korean Labor Party coal trade, the Finance Ministry explained.

Only thousands of tons of coal and iron ore exported to Vietnam were cheated since North Korea’s coal was made in Russia.

The rest of the companies were found to own and operate the ships, loaded with North Korean coal and departing from North Korean ports such as the port of Wonsan. The ships are being shipped to Vietnam, Togo and Tanzania, and this has been done for years, the Finance Ministry explained.

UN Security Council Resolution 2371, prepared in July 2017 as a sanction against North Korea, completely banned the export of North Korean coal.

In particular, the Finance Ministry raised the issue of helping China avoid sanctions against North Korea.

The Finance Ministry stressed that “the Chinese authorities must implement and implement the resolutions of the UN Security Council,” and said that companies based in China continue to engage in activities prohibited by the sanctions against North Korea.

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He added that action should be taken against people, companies and ships involved in commercial activities prohibited by the UN sanctions resolution, including the acquisition of coal from North Korea.

“North Korea continues to circumvent the UN ban on coal exports,” said Treasury Secretary Stephen Manusin. “(Coal exports) are the main source of income that supports weapons of mass destruction.”

“The North Korean regime frequently mobilizes forced labor in concentration camps for the mining industry, including coal,” and criticized that “it is exploiting its own people to promote illegal nuclear programs.”

In this sanction, the “hot automatic beer method” was also a base clause. Warmbier is an American college student who died after being detained in North Korea, and a strong North Korea sanctions clause named after him was included in the Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2020.

On the 19th of last month, the self-heating method was also mentioned in the Finance Ministry’s sanctions against North Korea aimed at sending North Korean workers abroad.

The Trump administration has 40 days left in office, but it is increasing the level of pressure against China through sanctions against North Korea.

White House security adviser Robert O’Brien said in an interview published the day before that coal smuggling from North Korea was a problem and pressured China to implement sanctions.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) also reported that North Korean ships were transporting coal to China covering high-ranking officials at the US State Department the day before, and attached satellite images provided by the US government. .

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