Russia and China boost North Korea’s global weapons industry

While the world’s attention has been focused elsewhere, the disbandment of the international sanctions monitoring regime on North Korea has raised concerns about the unhindered flow of North Korean weapons to global hotspots. Enforcement of UN sanctions against North Korea has been eroding for years, culminating in Russia’s veto of a key monitoring committee in March. This lack of oversight will allow North Korea to freely ship weapons to allies like Russia, China, Iran, and Syria without fear of repercussions.

North Korea has been cleverly evading sanctions by using tactics like flagging ships under false identities and employing Automated Identification System spoofing. By altering ships in Chinese shipyards and conducting ship-to-ship transfers in Northeast Asian waters, North Korea continues to trade illicitly despite sanctions. The slackening of enforcement has enabled North Korea to increase its weapons exports and consolidate alliances, such as with Russia.

The end of stringent enforcement will allow North Korea to expand its network of buyers and potentially strengthen military ties with countries like Iran and Syria. The collaboration between North Korea, Russia, and China could have significant implications for global geopolitics, with the potential to challenge American influence in East Asia.