09/21/18 Next , an editorial reflecting the views of the United States government . In an effort to encourage the Democratic People ' s Republic of Korea , or North Korea , to dismantle its nuclear weapons program ,
the United Nations Security Council last year passed Resolution 2375 , which imposes sanctions on North Korea . The United States is determined to strictly implement this Resolution .
" Members of the UN Security Council , and by extension all UN member - states , have unanimously agreed to fully enforce sanctions on North Korea , and we expect them to continue to honor those commitments ," said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo :
" When sanctions are not enforced , the prospects for the successful denuclearization are diminished . Right now , North Korea is illegally smuggling petroleum products into the country at a level that far exceeds the quotas established by the United Nations .
These illegal ship - to - ship transfers are the most prominent means by which this is happening ." On August 21 , the U . S . Department of the Treasury issued sanctions
against two Russian shipping companies for the transfer of refined petroleum products to North Korean vessels and six vessels associated with those firms . The sanctions are pursuant to Executive Order 13810 of September 21 , 2017 ,
which targets persons involved in the ship - to - ship transfer of refined petroleum products with North Korea - flagged vessels , an activity expressly prohibited by the UN Security Council .
The two companies are Primorye Maritime Logistics Co Ltd and Gudzon Shipping Co LLC . Both are based in the Russian port of Vladivostok .
Among the six Russian - flagged sanctioned vessels is the Patriot , which conducted two ship - to - ship transfers of oil in early 2018 : 1500 tons to the North Korea - flagged vessel Chong Rim 2 and another 2000 tons to the North Korea - flagged ship Chon Ma San .
The buyer was the Taesong Bank , a North Korean entity that has previously been sanctioned by both the U . S . and the UN . " Ship - to - ship transfers with North Korea - flagged vessels from Russia or elsewhere of any goods being supplied ,
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