The Open Source Centre has documented 43 journeys made by North Korean oil tankers to Russia since March 2024. Satellite imagery analysis shows that Russia has supplied North Korea with more than a million barrels of oil this year. This oil is payment for the weapons and troops that Pyongyang has sent to fuel Russia’s war in Ukraine. These transfers violate UN sanctions on North Korea, which restrict the sale of oil to the country. The satellite images show North Korean oil tankers arriving in Russia’s Far East, with some appearing to arrive empty and leave nearly full. Russia has not responded to requests for comment on these transfers.
Experts and UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, have expressed concerns about the impact of these oil transfers on global security. North Korea is only allowed to receive 500,000 barrels of oil annually under UN sanctions, but it consumes nine million barrels. This shortfall has forced North Korea to buy oil illicitly from criminal networks. The recent direct supply of oil from Russia to North Korea provides a more stable and reliable source of oil for the country.
The Open Source Centre has been tracking these oil transfers and has calculated that Russia has provided North Korea with over a million barrels of oil since March, exceeding the annual cap set by the UN. Cloud cover has made it difficult to track these transfers consistently, but the researchers believe that the one million barrels figure is a baseline estimate. More than half of the journeys tracked involved vessels that have been individually sanctioned by the UN, but Russia has ignored these sanctions.
Experts worry about the broader implications of North Korea’s support for Russia, including the possibility of receiving advanced technology for spy satellites and ballistic missiles. The South Korean government has expressed concern about the violation of UN Security Council resolutions by Russia and North Korea. The deepening relationship between these autocratic regimes poses a threat to global security and the enforcement of international sanctions.