At Least 45 Tankers Visited North Korea’s Nampo Port, Raising Possible Sanctions Breach

At least 45 suspected oil tankers entered North Korea’s Nampo port this year, according to a satellite-image analysis that raises the possibility that Pyongyang received more refined petroleum than United Nations sanctions allow.

Voice of America reported that the vessels appeared at Nampo’s oil-unloading facilities between Jan. 1 and Aug. 25. The estimated cargoes range from 450,000 to 1.35 million barrels, based on a U.N. Security Council sanctions experts’ estimate that one tanker can carry between 10,000 and 30,000 barrels. Some vessels may not have been detected because of weather conditions, meaning the actual number of port visits could be higher.

The U.N. Security Council capped North Korea’s annual imports of refined petroleum, including gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel, at 500,000 barrels under Resolution 2397, adopted in 2017. The satellite analysis therefore suggests that the country may already have exceeded the limit through Nampo alone, although the cargo estimate is presented as a range.

Nampo, near Pyongyang, is considered one of North Korea’s main ports for trade with Russia and China. Two new oil-storage tanks were spotted at the Nampo oil-storage complex on Aug. 8. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service assessed last year that North Korea’s refined-petroleum imports from China and Russia exceeded the U.N. limit by more than seven times. Intelligence authorities also believe North Korea has continued buying fuel from Russia in addition to relying on China, its traditional supply route.