South Korea to impose sanctions on Russian ships, North Korean individuals

In response to the recent agreement between North Korea and Russia to bolster military and economic cooperation through a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty, South Korea has announced its decision to impose independent sanctions.

The South Korean foreign ministry made the announcement on June 27, detailing the sanctions that will target five organizations, four ships, and eight individuals involved in illegal activities, Caliber.Az reports, citing the South Korean media.

The sanctions, set to take effect on July 1, will affect entities and individuals implicated in transporting weapons between Russia and North Korea and in developing North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile programs. Among those blacklisted are the North’s Missile General Bureau, Russian shipping companies Transmorflot LLC and M Leasing LLC, Cypriot shipping firm IBEX Shipping Inc., and Euromarket, based in South Ossetia.

The ministry stated that these shipping companies had facilitated the transportation of military supplies between Russia and North Korea, in direct violation of international sanctions.

Additionally, four Russian ships—Patriot, Neptun, Bella, and Bogatyr—are accused of violating UN Security Council resolutions by supplying oil to North Korea through transhipment with North Korean vessels.

The eight individuals facing sanctions are high-ranking officials from North Korea’s Missile General Bureau, National Aerospace Development Administration, and Academy of National Defense Science. These officials have been directly involved in the development of missiles and reconnaissance satellites for North Korea.