The government has designated seven North Korean individuals and two Russian vessels as targets of independent sanctions. The individuals and vessels were involved in the transportation of military supplies between North Korea and Russia, weapons trade, and the import of refined oil to North Korea which contributed to North Korea’s procurement of materials and funds for nuclear and missile development.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on May 24, the seven North Korean individuals added to the sanctions list were Rim Yong Hyok, Han Hyok Chol, Kim Jong Gil, Jang Ho Young, Ri Kyong Sik, Ri Yong Min, and Park Kwang Hyok. As a representative of the Korea Mining and Development Trading Corporation in Syria, Rim was involved in the weapons trade between North Korea and Russia. This company has been dealing with ballistic missiles and conventional weapons as a North Korean state-owned weapons company, which was designated as a target of North Korean sanctions by the UN Security Council in April 2009.
The Security Council’s sanctions committee on North Korea, which was abolished due to Russia’s veto, also recently pointed out Rim’s violation of Security Council resolutions.
In the annual report from March 2024, the panel described that it had obtained information that Rim had negotiated to facilitate the transfer of weapons between North Koreans and Russians affiliated with the Russian mercenary organization, Wagner Group, from 2022 to October 2023. Han, representing Taeryong Trade in Vladivostok, Russia, has been implicated in importing Russian diesel to North Korea through Seungri Mountain Trade. This company was marked by the government for independent sanctions against North Korea in October 2022.
The Security Council, through Resolution 2397 adopted in 2017, has limited the amount of petroleum imported into North Korea to 4 million barrels of crude oil and 500,000 barrels of refined oil per year. According to the panel’s annual report, North Korea is estimated to have imported more than 1.5 million barrels of refined oil, three times the annual limit, from January to September 2023.
The remaining five are affiliated with Myeongan Company, North Korea’s Military Industry Department subsidiary. They have been illegally staying in Vladivostok, Russia, and raising foreign currency for the Military Industry Department’s nuclear development funds through IT activities.
The Russian vessels MAIA-1 and MARIA, which were added to the sanctions list, transported military supplies between Russia and North Korea with a large number of containers on board.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “Military cooperation, including the North Korea-Russia weapons trade, clearly violates Security Council resolutions.” They added, “The government’s action is anticipated to strengthen the international community’s sanctions network, achieved through close collaboration with allied nations.”
Financial and foreign exchange transactions with individuals designated as targets of these independent sanctions require prior approval from the Financial Services Commission or the Governor of the Bank of Korea under Article 15 of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act and Article 29 of its Enforcement Decree. Those who trade without permission can be fined under relevant laws.
The ships’ captains designated as targets of these independent sanctions must obtain South Korea’s entry permission from the administration under Article 4 of the Ship Entry/Exit Act and Article 3 of its Enforcement Decree to enter the country.