The intelligence the US had must have been indisputable because the ROK government is now admitting that they did in fact allow in shipments of North Korean coal:
Korea Customs Service Deputy Commissioner Roh Suk-hwan presents the findings of an investigation regarding illegal entry of North Korean coal and pig iron into South Korean ports at a media briefing held at the government complex in Daejeon, Friday. / Yonhap
South Korea received 6.6 billion won ($5.86 million) worth of North Korean coal and pig iron, of which the country of origin was fabricated, the nation’s customs agency said, Friday.
Cheong Wa Dae said there is no conflict between South Korea and the U.S. regarding the issue as the two countries are coordinating closely with mutual trust.
According to the Korea Customs Service (KCS), three South Korean importers brought in 35,038 tons of North Korean coal and pig iron from April through October last year.
They turned out to have used a Russian port as a transit hub, fabricating the materials as Russian coal. They brokered exports of North Korean goods to other countries via Russia, and got North Korean coal as a commission. (……..)
There is concern the confirmation may negatively affect South Korea’s alliance with the United States as well as its relations with North Korea.
“Though the United States has been moving to improve ties with North Korea, engaging in talks, it has been continuing pressure,” said Yang Moo-jin, professor at the University of North Korean Studies.
Washington has been firm that sanctions should be maintained until North Korea takes concrete steps for denuclearization.
“As it turned out that South Korea, which is a U.S. ally, violated the sanctions, there will be negative effects,” he said. [Korea Times]
You can read more at the link, but remember these are the violations that have been provable, I have to wonder what else has been going on in violation of UN sanctions?
To be honest isn’t it time to get out of South Korea? If they want to be Communist let them be Communist. They can sale there cars and phones to China.
HK
6 years ago
Doesn’t the U.S. government have better things to do – e.g., address its crumbing infrastructure, make America great again, school & public place shootings, addressing the immigrant crisis, the trade & tariff wars, dealing with the opioid crisis, etc., – rather than micromanaging the internal affairs and domestic trade of a sovereign nation over 3,000 miles away? (Oh, and btw, this kind of inter-Korean trade has been going on for years.)
Flyingsword
6 years ago
so commie moon lied on top of violating UN sanctions. Nice.
To be honest isn’t it time to get out of South Korea? If they want to be Communist let them be Communist. They can sale there cars and phones to China.
Doesn’t the U.S. government have better things to do – e.g., address its crumbing infrastructure, make America great again, school & public place shootings, addressing the immigrant crisis, the trade & tariff wars, dealing with the opioid crisis, etc., – rather than micromanaging the internal affairs and domestic trade of a sovereign nation over 3,000 miles away? (Oh, and btw, this kind of inter-Korean trade has been going on for years.)
so commie moon lied on top of violating UN sanctions. Nice.
HK is really a lame n00b at the trolling game… Tom and RockTroll were much more entertaining.
Maybe Moon will start using the Clinton Excuse Book. “What difference does it make?” Or “I accidently deleated those email.”
“I don’t recall.”