US Sanctions Chinese Trading Company and Vessel Related to North Korean Coal Exports

Pressure on China to Join North Korea Sanctions

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The U.S. Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on ships and trading companies involved in North Korea's coal smuggling exports. The sanctions appear to target China, expressing dissatisfaction that China has not joined the sanctions against North Korea.

The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on the 8th (local time) that it would sanction six companies and four vessels related to North Korea's coal transportation.

The sanctioned trading companies include Daejin Trading Corporation based in Pyongyang, Weihai Huijiang Trading Company based in China, Silverbridge Shipping in Hong Kong, and one company in Vietnam.

Four vessels involved in transporting North Korean coal linked to these companies?Asiabridge, Cambridge, Lucky Star, and another?were also sanctioned.

UN Security Council Resolution 2371, adopted in July 2017 as part of sanctions against North Korea, completely bans the export of North Korean coal.

The Treasury criticized China's willingness to enforce sanctions related to North Korea's coal exports. The Treasury emphasized, "Chinese authorities must implement and enforce the UN Security Council resolutions."

Steven Mnuchin, Secretary of the Treasury, also pointed out, "North Korea is evading the ban on coal exports," adding that "(coal exports) are a primary source of income supporting the weapons of mass destruction program."

Secretary Mnuchin further criticized, "The North Korean regime commonly uses forced labor from prison camps in the mining industry, including coal," and "exploits its own people to advance its illegal nuclear program."

These sanctions came after the U.S. repeatedly warned China about its cooperation in smuggling North Korean coal.

Robert O'Brien, White House National Security Council (NSC) advisor, pointed out North Korea's coal smuggling and China's cooperation in an interview released the day before. The State Department opened a tip line offering a $5 million reward for information on evasion of sanctions against North Korea.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) also reported the previous day that North Korean-flagged vessels transported coal to China without attempts at transshipment, unlike in the past.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.