The United States has announced bold plans to take action against six ships accused of helping North Korea dodge United Nations (UN) rules. These rules were meant to stop North Korea from making money that could go towards dangerous weapons. A new investigation has shown that these ships broke the rules by carrying banned cargo like coal and iron ore out of North Korea.
The six ships—named ARMANI, CARTIER, CASIO, SOPHIA, YI LI 1, and AN YU—took part in at least 18 illegal trips. Shockingly, 17 of those trips ended at ports in China. These ports include places called Dalian, Jingtang, Yantai, Gaogang, and Binhai. Altogether, the cargo they carried could be worth over $33 million. That kind of money, according to the report, might be used by North Korea to build weapons, including nuclear ones.
What’s even more troubling is how these ships managed to hide their activities. They turned off their tracking systems, which are called AIS (Automatic Identification System), so no one could follow their journey. Sometimes, they even pretended to be somewhere else, like in Russian ports, when they were actually loading goods in North Korea. These sneaky tricks make it very hard for authorities to catch them in the act.
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UN Rules Under Attack
This move by the United States comes at a time when enforcing UN sanctions has become harder. About a year ago, a special team called the 1718 Committee Panel of Experts, which used to keep a close eye on sanctions violations, was shut down. This happened because Russia blocked its renewal, and China quietly supported that decision. Without this panel, it has been easier for countries and ships to break the rules without getting caught.
Even with these challenges, the U.S. says it is ready to work with other members of the UN Security Council to bring back the expert team. They believe it’s important to have watchdogs who can monitor and report these violations.
The report also revealed something even more serious. Since September 2023, North Korea has sent over 24,000 containers filled with weapons and more than 100 ballistic missiles to Russia. These weapons are being used in the ongoing war in Ukraine, which is another violation of multiple UN rules. These actions not only break international law but also add fuel to dangerous conflicts.
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Strong Demands for Action
The U.S. has called on all countries in the UN to take their responsibilities seriously. Under a rule called Resolution 2397, countries are supposed to stop and inspect any ship suspected of carrying banned goods. If they find evidence, they must seize and hold these ships. The U.S. says this needs to happen now, especially with the six ships they have named.
Additionally, the U.S. is urging countries that let these ships fly their flags—known as flag registries—to immediately remove their flags. This step would make it harder for the ships to continue their illegal activities because a ship without a flag can’t legally enter most ports or get insurance.
By pushing for these actions, the United States hopes to shine a light on the hidden world of sanctions evasion. They believe stopping these illegal shipments is key to cutting off the money flow that North Korea uses to build dangerous weapons.
As the UN Security Council gathers to discuss these serious violations, the world is watching to see if firm steps will be taken against those breaking the rules.
