North Korea has reportedly imported over a million barrels of oil from Russia this year, violating United Nations sanctions, according to satellite analysis released by the UK-based Open Source Centre and the BBC.
The investigation reveals that North Korean oil tankers have made more than 40 trips to Russia’s Vostochny port since March, despite international restrictions. The findings are supported by high-resolution satellite imagery, automatic identification system (AIS) data, and maritime patrol observations.
“Numerous satellite images, AIS data, and maritime patrol imagery confirm North Korean tankers repeatedly loading oil at Russia’s Vostochny port, circumventing UN sanctions,” the report stated. Russia has not commented on these allegations.
This revelation coincides with claims by a South Korean official that Russia has supplied air defense missiles to North Korea, allegedly in exchange for North Korean troops supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Under UN sanctions, North Korea’s annual refined petroleum imports are capped at 500,000 barrels due to its nuclear and missile programs. However, Pyongyang has routinely surpassed this limit through illegal channels, as documented by international watchdogs. A US-South Korea joint task force, established earlier this year to prevent North Korea’s illicit oil imports, has faced criticism for limited effectiveness, partly due to divisions among UN member states.
The deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow have raised concerns internationally. In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea, where he and Kim Jong Un agreed to a mutual defense pact. This growing partnership has alarmed the US, Ukraine, and South Korea, which have condemned North Korea for allegedly sending military equipment and over 10,000 troops to support Russia’s war efforts.
Russia’s UN Envoy, Vassily Nebenzia, argued last month that such military cooperation does not breach international law. Meanwhile, North Korea has neither confirmed nor denied these deployments.
South Korea’s national security adviser, Shin Won-sik, stated in an interview with SBS that Russia has provided North Korea with anti-air missiles and air defense systems to bolster its weak defenses. He also alleged that Moscow has shared military technology to assist Pyongyang’s satellite program, following North Korea’s failed spy satellite launch earlier this year.
Tensions have further escalated since South Korean drones reportedly dropped propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang. North Korea has threatened military retaliation, although South Korea’s military has not confirmed involvement in these drone operations.
Mr. Shin also claimed that Russia has provided economic aid and advanced technologies to North Korea, including assistance with developing space-based surveillance systems. During a summit last year, Putin reportedly expressed a willingness to help North Korea build satellites. However, experts doubt North Korea’s current capacity to produce militarily significant satellite imagery, given the failure of its second satellite launch attempt in May.
Seoul and Washington remain concerned about the potential transfer of sensitive nuclear or missile technology from Russia to North Korea. While Mr. Shin did not confirm such transfers, experts suggest they are unlikely at this stage of North Korea’s reported troop deployments to Russia.
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