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Satellite imagery indicates North Korea oil imports from Russia leading U.N. limitations, report states

North Korea has likely received more than 1 million barrels of oil from Russia over an eightmonth duration this year in breach of U.N. sanctions, according to an analysis of satellite images released on Friday by UKbased Open Source Centre and the BBC.

North Korean oil tankers have actually made more than 40 visits to Russia's Far Eastern port of Vostochny considering that March, the report on the research study group Open Source Centre's website said.

Dozens of high-resolution satellite images, AIS (Automatic. Identification System) data and images released by maritime. patrol missions tasked with keeping track of North Korea's. U.N.-sanctions busting activities show North Korean tankers. repeatedly packing at an oil terminal at the Russian port of. Vostochny, the report said, including that Russia's foreign. ministry did not react to a request for comment.

North Korea has continued to illicitly import refined. petroleum items in infraction of U.N. Security Council. resolutions, according to the UNSC.

Previously this year, the United States and South Korea. launched a brand-new job force aimed at avoiding North Korea from. acquiring illegal oil as a deadlock at the UNSC cast doubts over. the future of international sanctions.

Under UNSC limitations imposed over North Korea's nuclear. weapons and missile advancement, Pyongyang is limited to. importing 500,000 barrels of improved items a year.

Pyongyang and Moscow have increase diplomatic and financial. ties in recent years, culminating in Russian President Vladimir. Putin's check out to North Korea in June when the nations' leaders. concurred a mutual defence pact.

The military cooperation in between the two countries has been. fulfilled by global alarm, with Washington, Kyiv and Seoul. condemning the North for sending military devices and more. than 10,000 soldiers to Russia to support its war against Ukraine.

Russia's envoy to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said. last month Russia's military interaction with North Korea did. not break worldwide law.

North Korea has actually not acknowledged the release of soldiers to. Russia, but said any such move would be in compliance with. worldwide law.

(source: Reuters)