Amid escalating tensions, South Korea and Japan have announced a series of sanctions targeting individuals, organizations, and vessels allegedly involved in Russia’s procurement of weapons from North Korea in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
According to South Korea’s foreign ministry, sanctions have been imposed on seven North Korean individuals and two Russian vessels over their roles in facilitating weapons trade and other activities between Pyongyang and Moscow. The vessels were found to have transported military supplies between Russia and North Korea, blatantly disregarding Security Council resolutions.
The United States and South Korea have accused North Korea of transferring weapons to Russia for use in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Despite denials from Moscow and Pyongyang, both countries pledged last year to strengthen military cooperation.
Japan has also joined in imposing sanctions, targeting 11 organizations and one individual allegedly involved in military cooperation to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi emphasized that Russia’s procurement of arms from North Korea violates U.N. resolutions prohibiting such transfers.
South Korea’s foreign ministry cited a U.N. panel of experts’ annual report, revealing negotiations between a North Korean individual and a Russian from the Wagner Group to promote arms trade between 2022 and 2023. Additionally, another individual based in Russia was implicated in transporting diesel from Russia to North Korea, in violation of Security Council resolutions.
In response to South Korea’s previous sanctions on Russian individuals and entities, Russia labeled them as “unfriendly” and warned of retaliatory measures. Meanwhile, North Korea has been subject to U.N. sanctions since 2006 for its ballistic missile and nuclear programs, with sanctions tightening over the years.
Earlier this year, the U.N. panel of experts monitoring North Korea sanctions failed to extend its mandate due to a veto from Moscow. Consequently, the United States and its allies are exploring alternative measures to address the situation.
