Russia has reportedly supplied North Korea with over a million barrels of oil since March 2024, according to satellite imagery analysis conducted by the Open Source Centre, a UK-based research organization. This transfer is seen as payment for the weapons and troops North Korea has provided to support Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
The shipments, which violate United Nations sanctions restricting oil exports to North Korea, were revealed through exclusive satellite images shared with the BBC. These images document 43 trips by North Korean-flagged oil tankers to Russia’s Vostochny Port over eight months. Upon arrival, the tankers were empty, but they departed nearly full.
Escalating Sanctions Violations
The United Nations has capped North Korea’s annual oil imports at 500,000 barrels to curtail its nuclear weapons program. However, Russia’s oil supply since March more than doubles this limit. Despite the sanctions, the tankers operated with their trackers off, evading detection.
This breach follows Russia’s 2024 veto to dissolve the UN panel monitoring sanctions violations, granting Moscow and Pyongyang greater freedom to defy international rules. Former UN panel members expressed alarm at the increasing disregard for sanctions, with experts calling it a “new level of contempt.”
Oil-for-Weapons Deal
North Korea’s military heavily relies on oil for its operations, and this steady supply provides stability Pyongyang hasn’t experienced since sanctions were imposed in 2017. Experts suggest the oil shipments are exchanged for North Korea’s support in providing weapons, artillery, and troops for Russia’s war efforts.
Joe Byrne from the Open Source Centre noted, “This steady flow of oil gives North Korea a level of stability it hasn’t had since these sanctions were introduced.”
Concerns of Broader Implications
Beyond oil, Pyongyang has reportedly supplied Russia with 16,000 containers of artillery and rockets, while North Korean ballistic missile remnants have been found on Ukrainian battlefields. Intelligence suggests thousands of North Korean troops are now fighting in Russia’s Kursk region.
This alliance raises concerns about Russia possibly sharing advanced military technology with North Korea, potentially enhancing Pyongyang’s spy satellites and ballistic missile capabilities. South Korean authorities have vowed a “stern response” to these developments.
As autocratic regimes like Russia and North Korea deepen their cooperation, experts warn of growing global security threats, with fears of advanced weapons technology further destabilizing regions like the Indo-Pacific.