Amid consecutive missile launches... US considers strengthening crackdown on North Korea's illegal transshipment

North Korea's medium-range ballistic missile (IRBM) Hwasong-12, test-fired on the 30th of last month [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The United States is considering strengthening crackdowns on North Korea's illegal maritime ship-to-ship transfers. This is in response to North Korea's successive ballistic missile launches.

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on the 3rd, a senior U.S. government official stated regarding North Korea's missile launches, "We are reviewing appropriate response measures."

The UN Security Council limits the total amount of refined oil that can be supplied to North Korea to 500,000 barrels per year under UN Security Council Resolution 2397.

The U.S. government believes that North Korea is conducting illegal ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum products at sea to evade UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea.

The U.S. government's move comes in response to North Korea's seven ballistic missile test launches so far this year.

In particular, on the 30th of last month, North Korea raised tensions by launching a medium-range ballistic missile (IRBM) called the Hwasong-12. The U.S. is also wary of the possibility that North Korea may test-launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.

A senior U.S. government official told the Nihon Keizai Shimbun that regarding North Korea's testing of various ballistic missiles and increasing their range, "We are concerned about a pattern of behavior that gradually raises (tensions)."

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