North Korea exports illegal coal shipments to South Korea

The Korea Customs Office is currently investigating the two illegal shipments of North Korean coal. Reportedly, the over 9000 t of North Korean coal were disguised as Russian exports.

The South Korean government recently searched two vessels which carried the coal from Russia’s Kholmsk port. However, no action was taken against them.

In December last year, the UN Security Council revised its Decision (CFSP) 2016/849. The amended resolutions now states that “Member States shall seize, inspect and impound any vessel in their ports, and may seize, inspect and impound any vessel subject to their jurisdiction in their territorial waters where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the vessel has been involved in activities, or the transport of items, prohibited…”.

Under UN Security Council sanctions, North Korea is banned from exporting coal.

Ministry Spokesman Noh Kyu-duk stated: “The South Korean government has been closely co-operating with the international community to faithfully implement the UN sanctions on North Korea. The imports of North Korean coal and its domestic distribution have been spotted by our authorities through close international co-ordination and an investigation is under way.”