North Korean vessels active in China, marine traffic data show
North Korea #NorthKorea
March 16 (UPI) — North Korean shipping activity could be rising in March, and some vessels that turned off their trackers have switched them back on, according to a recent press report.
Data from maritime intelligence provider MarineTraffic showed as many as 13 North Korean ships had turned on their Automatic Identification System, or AIS, enabling the monitoring of vessels that previously may have gone undetected, Radio Free Asia’s Korean service reported.
A snapshot of North Korean vessel traffic Monday indicated that ships, including at least one vessel on a U.S. Treasury list for coal exports, were traveling between North Korean and Chinese ports.
In 2019, the Ryon Hwa 3 was included on a list of the Treasury’s vessels linked to North Korean coal exports. Coal trade is banned under international sanctions.
The Ryon Hwa 3 was seen in waters between China and North Korea on Monday, according to MarineTraffic data. Other North Korean ships that were tracked included the Zai Zhou 2, the Nam Dae Chon, the Kum Ho 1, the Thae Phyong, Chong Am and the O Rang.
Thirteen North Korean ships were seen sailing between Nampo Port in North Korea and the Chinese ports of Dalian, Yantai and Ningbo-Zhoushan near Shanghai.
According to MarineTraffic, the Ryon Hwa 3 turned off its signal in January 2018, possibly to avoid detection. From Wednesday to Monday, the ship was seen at Bayuquan Port in China’s northeastern Liaoning Province.
North Korean shipping activity comes after Pyongyang enacted a new law on disinfection that could ease trade restrictions at the border.
The North Korean economy suffered significant setbacks last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, and trade with China dropped as much as 80%, according to South Korean estimates.
Pyongyang’s media is highlighting the fight against the novel coronavirus.
The Rodong Sinmun on Monday called for efforts to “secure the safety of our country and the people” with the enforcement of emergency quarantine measures.
Last week, the United Nations raised concerns about human rights abuses in North Korea in connection to its quarantine policy and border restrictions.