Japan and South Korea impose new sanctions for Pyongyang-Kremlin arms trade

Japan and South Korea have joined Western allies to strongly condemn Russia’s alleged procurement of weapons from North Korea, announcing separate sanctions on individuals, organizations and vessels involved in the illicit trade that violates international sanctions.

Japan announced sanctions on nine entities and an individual in Russia and two firms in Cyprus over alleged North Korean arms transfers to Russia.  

In Seoul, the foreign ministry said, ‘Our government is investigating seven North Korean individuals and two Russian ships who were involved in procuring materials and funds for North Korean nuclear and missile development through transportation of military supplies and arms trade between Russia and North Korea.’

It said one of the sanctioned North Koreans who was stationed in Syria on behalf of Pyongyang ‘had negotiated with a Russian member of the Wagner Group to facilitate arms transfers between Russia and North Korea from 2022 to October 2023.’ Another North Korean based in Russia ‘was involved in the import of Russian diesel oil into North Korea,’ it alleged.

Five others, it said, ‘are illegally staying in Vladivostok, Russia, developing nuclear weapons and missiles for the Ministry of Military Industry through IT foreign currency earning activities.’

Two sanctioned Russian ships ‘transported military supplies between Russia and North Korea, carrying a large number of containers,’ the ministry charged.