US ready to impose sanctions against ships supplying weapons from North Korea to Russia

The United States accused Russia of violating the sanctions regime against the DPRK, in particular through the import of weapons and ammunition.

Acting US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea announced this at a Security Council meeting on Wednesday, Ukrinform writes.

According to her, a year ago, “Russia, with the tacit support of China,” vetoed the extension of the mandate of the group of experts monitoring the implementation of sanctions against the DPRK, “depriving all UN member states of important, objective information.”

“However, independent and authoritative experts from organizations such as the Open Source Center continue to investigate and provide information on violations of resolutions regarding the DPRK,” Shea noted.

She thanked these organizations for their systematic study of satellite imagery and the creation of innovative three-dimensional models of ships, containers and ammunition to calculate the billions of dollars in artillery shells, missiles and other munitions that Russia continues to import from the DPRK, violating Security Council sanctions.

Dorothy Shea also reminded that North Korea continues to violate Security Council resolutions by exporting coal and iron ore to China.

“Russia cynically obstructs the Security Council’s work on implementing sanctions against the DPRK, trying to avoid accusations of its own violations,” the diplomat stressed.

According to her, the Security Council should consider these violations of the resolutions, despite the opposition of Russia and China.

Shea said that since September 2023, North Korea has transferred more than 24,000 containers with ammunition and more than 100 ballistic missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine.

She stressed that these deliveries are a gross violation of UN Security Council resolutions prohibiting the receipt or provision of arms, military assistance and related materials from the DPRK.

“All resolutions on the DPRK remain in force, despite attempts by Russia and China to block the resumption of the work of the monitoring group of experts,” the acting permanent representative emphasized.

According to her, the US is also ready to add specific vessels involved in violating sanctions against the DPRK to the sanctions list.

Earlier, USM reported that the DPRK is building its largest warship: Russia could provide the technology.