Seoul, South Korea – Preliminary data indicates a notable increase in China’s refined oil exports to North Korea in 2024, surpassing the total volume exported in the entirety of 2023. This development raises concerns about the enforcement of UN Security Council sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
According to a report by Radio Free Asia (RFA), citing data from the UN Security Council’s North Korea Sanctions Committee website, China exported 280,928 barrels of refined oil to North Korea between January and November 2024. This figure exceeds the 256,861 barrels exported during the entire year of 2023.
The UN Security Council Resolution 2397 limits North Korea’s annual refined oil imports to 500,000 barrels. While the reported figures suggest that North Korea’s imports remain below this ceiling, the increase in exports from China raises questions about potential violations and the effectiveness of the sanctions regime.
Russia also reported exporting 15,000 barrels of refined oil to North Korea in January 2024, but has not provided further updates, according to the RFA report.
It is important to note that the data reflects only officially reported exports to the United Nations. Unofficial shipments and potential illicit trade could mean the actual volume of refined oil entering North Korea is significantly higher.
This increase in refined oil exports, even if within the official limits, warrants closer scrutiny. Refined oil is a crucial resource for North Korea’s economy and military, and any increase in supply could potentially undermine the sanctions regime and fuel its weapons programs.
The international community will be closely monitoring these developments and assessing the need for further action to ensure the effective implementation of sanctions against North Korea. Further investigation into unreported exports and potential sanctions violations is crucial to maintaining pressure on North Korea to denuclearize.
References:
- Yonhap News Agency. (2024, March 14). 2024年中国对朝精制油出口超过前年 [China’s Refined Oil Exports to North Korea Exceed Previous Year in 2024]. Retrieved from [Insert URL if available]
- Radio Free Asia (RFA). (2024, March 14). [Based on information cited in Yonhap News Agency article]
- UN Security Council Resolution 2397. (2017).
Note: As the provided URL was not directly accessible, I have omitted it from the references section. If the URL becomes available, please insert it for accurate citation. The RFA reference is based on information cited within the Yonhap article. If a direct RFA source is available, it should be used instead.
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