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Satellite Images Reveal Russian Oil Shipments to North Korea in Exchange for Military Support Against Ukraine
An unprecedented analysis of satellite images revealed a scheme for shipping oil from Russia to North Korea, which is believed to be in exchange for military support against Ukraine. According to the Open Source Centre, a non-profit research group from the United Kingdom, Russia has supplied over one million barrels of oil to North Korea since March 2024. These shipments violate UN sanctions and showcase a dangerous alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang.
The images, exclusively shared with the BBC, document at least 43 trips of North Korean oil tankers to Vostochny port in the Russian Far East. They arrive empty and depart nearly full, highlighting the illicit flow. Analysts claim the oil serves as payment for weapons, ammunition, and thousands of soldiers sent by Kim Jong Un to reinforce Vladimir Putin’s forces in the conflict in Ukraine.
Illegal Oil Trade Fuels War
The United Nations prohibits any significant transfer of oil to North Korea, limiting it to 500,000 barrels per year. However, the volume documented by researchers exceeds this limit by over 100%. “These transfers are fueling Putin’s war machine — oil for missiles, artillery, and soldiers,” stated Hugh Griffiths, former leader of the UN panel monitoring sanctions against the North Korean regime.
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This agreement, which analysts describe as a “survival trade,” appears strategic for both countries. While Russia struggles against international sanctions and seeks to maintain its military campaign in Ukraine, North Korea is receiving essential fuel for its military and industrial operations, bolstering its stability.
Discreet and Calculated Transfers
The operations follow a stealthy pattern: the tankers turn off their trackers as they approach the Russian coast and return to North Korea quietly. Nevertheless, researchers from the Open Source Centre used advanced techniques to calculate the cargo capacity and the volume transported on each trip.
“We can state that the ships were loaded to 90% of their capacity. The estimate of one million barrels is conservative,” explained Joe Byrne, a researcher at the center. Furthermore, the oil shipments coincide with the dispatch of North Korean arms and troops to the war in Ukraine.
Concerning Alliance
The partnership between Russia and North Korea has global implications. Pyongyang is reported to have sent 16,000 containers of artillery shells and rockets to Moscow. There are also records of North Korean soldiers fighting on the front lines in Russian territory. In exchange, it is speculated that Russia is offering North Korea not only oil but also advanced military technology, including enhancements to ballistic missiles and satellites.
“This is a dangerous game,” warns Eric Penton-Voak, former leader of the UN sanctions panel. “Now we have authoritarian regimes joining forces, ignoring international sanctions, and threatening global security.”
International Reactions
The United Kingdom and South Korea have vehemently condemned the transfers. David Lammy, UK’s Foreign Secretary, classified the shipment of oil from Russia to North Korea as a direct threat to stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific. Seoul has expressed concern that Moscow may be sharing sensitive technology with Pyongyang, increasing the risk of nuclear escalation.
As the war in Ukraine intensifies, the world watches anxiously the growing dependency of Vladimir Putin on North Korea. The pact between the two regimes reinforces the isolation of both and poses a direct challenge to the international order.
Putin no respeta el acuerdo de Memorándum de Budapest solo le interesa
quedarse con el poder
como sempre a fonte da notícia é vozes da minha cabeça, e tirei do cú.🤣🤣🤣
Rússia deve integrar a Coreia do Norte em sua economia. Não importa o que os americanos digam, esse é o caminho certo a se fazer . O Ocidente usou de todos os meios pra sabotar qualquer processo de paz desde o início. Não é a Rússia que prolonga a guerra, mas a indústria de armas dos EUA…