North Korean cargo ships crowd Russia’s Nakhodka amid coal, arms suspicions

Last month, North Korean cargo ships repeatedly went in and out of the Russian Far East’s Nakhodka port. Because many were spotted around coal terminals and sanctioned vessels were among them, suspicions are being raised that trades are taking place to conceal the origin of North Korean coal.

According to U.S.-based North Korea–focused outlet NK News on the 5th (local time), MarineTraffic ship-tracking data showed at least 13 North Korean ships recorded 14 visits to Nakhodka in October. North Korean ship visits to Nakhodka tallied through early November this year totaled 20, 14 of which were concentrated in October. The number of visits last year was 33.

Of the 13 North Korean ships that sent position signals near Nakhodka last month, at least nine were around coal terminals. They included Bukdaebong, which is under U.N. Security Council sanctions; Deokseong, sanctioned by the Korean government; and Geumseong 7, sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury. Eunbong 2 and Myongshin, which the United States previously identified as involved in illicit coal trading or ship-to-ship transfers, also sent position signals at this port.

This story was originally published by Hellenic Shipping News. Read the full story at Hellenic Shipping News →