Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Japan Posts New Evidence Of North Korean Ships Breaking Sanctions


NK News: Japan publishes further evidence of North Korean ship-to-ship activity

DPRK vessel involved in illicit STS transfer was sanctioned by U.S. Treasury on Friday.

The Japanese government on Tuesday published further evidence of North Korean vessels engaged in ship-to-ship (STS) transfers on the high seas, a practice prohibited by UN Security Council (UNSC) sanctions.

The posts on multiple government websites include photographs of the STS transfer taking place on the morning of February 24 between a North Korean ship and a vessel flying a Maldives flag.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Many are concerned that this is next .... US Prepares High-seas Crackdown on N.Korea Sanctions Evaders (Marine Link).

More News On Japan Posting New Evidence Of North Korean Ships Breaking Sanctions

Japan seeks help to block North Korea's smuggling at sea -- Nikkei Asian Review
Japan reports fresh suspected North Korea sanctions breach -- Rappler/AFP
Japan Suspects Yet Another North Korea Sanctions Breach at Sea -- US News and World Report/Reuters
Japan Suspects Another North Korea Sanctions Breach at Sea -- Marine Link
Japan Informs UNSC of Possible Violation of Anti-Pyongyang Sanctions at Sea -- Sputnik International
Japan wants US and South Korea to help surveil Pyongyang-linked sanctions evaders in East China Sea -- The Japan Times
These are the blacklisted vessels on Trump's new sanction list -- Shipping Watch UK

3 comments:

Bob Huntley said...

I think Japan would be wise to keep a low profile on Korea given its history relative to Korea and other countries in the area.

B.Poster said...

Bob,

World War 2 is over. Imperial Japan is gone and is never coming back.

In fact, on the one hand we need to shine as bright a light as possible on sanctions violations as we can. On the other hand, I do agree with your "low profile" approach except for perhaps different ideas. Getting China and Russia to agree to such sanctions in principle was a huge step and a very difficult one for those countries and their leaders to take. Push to hard to quickly and you risk destabilizing those governments. Any replacement for them would likely be even more hostile and more pro-North Korean than the current ones. Don't push hard enough and the sanctions are not going to be effective anyway.

Also, we have to remember that Japan is arguably more threatened by North Korea than the US is. As such, it is understandable why they would not want to keep quite. In any event, based upon what happened decades ago that is irrelevant for today would not be sufficient enough to expect Japan to keep a low profile. In any event, I wouldn't be surprised if our South Korean "ally" sucks us into a war.

Stephen Davenport said...

I personally would put a blockade on the Norks and dare them to do something about it. They are a festering scab and need to be dealt with and end this once and for all.