North Korea probably has received more than 1,000,000 barrels of oil from Russia in the past eight months, according to the results of an analysis of satellite images published today by the UK-based non-governmental organization "Open Source Center". Reuters, quoted by BTA.
North Korean oil tankers have been in port in the city of Vostochny, in the Russian Far East, more than 40 times, according to an analysis published on the website of the "Open Source Center". The text said it examined "dozens of high-resolution satellite images, Automatic Identification System (AIS), data and images released by naval patrol missions to monitor North Korean activities in violation of UN sanctions." ;. The analysis shows that North Korean tankers have repeatedly been loaded at the oil terminal in the port of Vostochny.
The Russian Foreign Ministry did not respond to the Open Source Center's request for comment. So far, there is no comment from the UN either.
According to the UN Security Council, North Korea continues to illegally import refined petroleum products, Reuters notes. Earlier this year, the US and South Korea formed a new task force aimed at preventing North Korea from obtaining oil in violation of UN sanctions. Under UN Security Council restrictions imposed over North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile development, Pyongyang can only import up to 500,000 barrels of refined products a year.
In recent years, Pyongyang and Moscow have strengthened diplomatic and economic contacts, culminating in President Vladimir Putin's visit to Pyongyang in June. Then the leaders of the two countries signed an agreement in the field of defense.
Military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang has caused alarm among the international community. Washington, Kiev and Seoul condemned North Korea's decision to send more than 10,000 troops to Russia to support it in its war against Ukraine.
Russia's permanent representative to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, said last month that military cooperation between his country and North Korea does not violate international law.
Pyongyang has not acknowledged that it has deployed troops to Russia, but has indicated that such a move would be in accordance with international law.