Smuggling operations at sea targeted in latest UN sanctions against North Korea
Member states told to use ‘new tools’ to stop illegal trade of banned products including textiles, seafood and coal
The UN has called on member states to use “new tools” to clamp down on smuggling activities at sea under the latest sanctions against North Korea following its nuclear test last week.
Traders along the border between China and North Korea said Chinese authorities had already cracked down on smuggling of products including seafood and coal after previous rounds of sanctions and now they expect the screws to be tightened further.
The United Nations Security Council resolution passed on Monday said North Korea had been smuggling coal and iron ore to other countries by sea using sophisticated evasion techniques.
“The resolution provides member states new tools to stop high seas smuggling of prohibited products,” it said.
Suspicious vessels would be stopped for inspection at sea or in a port and they could have their assets frozen, be denied port access, deregistered or hit with other penalties if they failed to cooperate.
