Russia Defies UN Sanctions, Supplies Oil Directly to North Korea

In a bold move that challenges international sanctions, Russia has initiated direct oil supplies to North Korea, solidifying the burgeoning relationship between the two authoritarian regimes.

Satellite images obtained by the Royal United Services Institute, a UK-based think-tank, reveal that at least five North Korean tankers made voyages in March to collect oil products from Vostochny Port in Russia’s Far East.

These shipments mark the first documented instances of direct seaborne deliveries from Russia to North Korea since the imposition of strict oil transfer caps by the UN Security Council in 2017, following Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons tests.

Hugh Griffiths, a former coordinator of the UN panel monitoring North Korea sanctions, condemned the oil deliveries as a blatant violation of the sanctions regime. He stated, "These oil deliveries constitute a full-frontal assault against the sanctions regime, which is now on the brink of collapse."

The revelation underscores the increasing defiance of international sanctions by both Russia and North Korea, signaling a potential erosion of diplomatic efforts to curb Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.

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Image description: The first slide features a montage of Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un alongside a map and satellite images. Text reads: FT exclusive - Satellite images show Russia supplying oil to North Korea, defying UN sanctions. The second slide includes a graphic showing North Korean tankers spotted at Vostochny Port in Russia, with dated satellite images indicating their subsequent voyage to the North Korean port of Chongjin.