On Tuesday, the US blacklisted several entities accused of circumventing UN sanctions by shipping coal out of North Korea. The UN Security Council banned coal exports from North Korea in 2017.
The US sanctioned four ships and six companies accused of facilitating coal shipments. They include China-based Weihai Huijiang Trade Ltd, Always Smooth Ltd, and Good Siblings Ltd. The US Treasury Department said Always Smooth and Good Siblings are also registered in the UK.
The US also blacklisted Vietnam-based Thinh Cuong Co Ltd, Hong Kong-based Silver Bridge Shipping Co-HKG, and Korea Daizin Trading Corporation, a company that operates between North Korea and Vietnam.
The move comes after a US State Department official accused China of not enforcing UN sanctions on North Korea. Last week, Alex Wong, deputy secretary for North Korea, made the accusation and warned of forthcoming sanctions on Chinese firms. Wong also announced the launching of a new website that aims to enforce North Korea sanctions.
The State Department launched DPRKrewards.com, a website that offers rewards of up to $5 million for information that leads to the “disruption” of “persons engaged in certain activities that support North Korea.”
Is there any person and any company in the world which is still free of a US sanction?
That is a good question.