Russia's oil aid to North Korea breaches U.N. cap, faces global sanctions

According to U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, in March alone, Russia supplied North Korea with approximately 22,000 tonnes of refined oil despite U.N. restrictions. The U.S. and its allies are gearing up to introduce new sanctions in response.

Kirby revealed in an online press briefing that the fuel shipments from Russia in March meant that North Korea had exceeded the U.N. Security Council's set import limit of around 67,000 tonnes per year.

Additionally, Kirby mentioned that Russia also played a role in ending the mandate of the group of experts who monitor the enforcement of U.N. Security Council sanctions by vetoing the extension of their mission. As a consequence of the veto, the team formally ceased operations at the end of April.

When asked if the U.S. is gearing up for sanctions in response to the regimes' actions, Kirby did not provide a straightforward answer. Nonetheless, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller announced at a subsequent conference that plans were in motion.

He announced that the U.S. would work with Australia, the European Union, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Britain on the expected follow-up sanctions over the petroleum shipments.

He indicated that the sanctions would target both the fuel deliveries from Russia to North Korea and the weapons shipments from North Korea to Russia.