Tag: United Nations

It is pretty clear that improving the human rights for North Koreans is not a concern for the Moon Jae-in administration:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is likely to have asked for Ojea Quintana, the United Nations’ special investigator on human rights in North Korea, to take a “toned-down” approach in handling North Korea’s human rights abuses.

Quintana is on a five-day trip to Seoul from Monday as he plans to meet with ranking ministerial officials including Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho and Vice Unification Minister Suh Ho.

“His visit is intended to gather relevant data on the status quo of the North’s human rights situation before the United Nations General Assembly convenes on the condition of North Korea’s human rights situation in October,” a foreign ministry official said.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

Another UN sanctions exemption for little to nothing in return from North Korea:

The United Nations Security Council has granted a sanctions exemption that will allow North and South Korea to move forward with a joint railway project, according to a report.

Seoul had requested an exemption for the delivery of fuel and other material needed to conduct a survey in North Korea focused on reconnecting cross-border railways.

The request was approved Friday by the security council’s North Korea sanctions committee, a foreign ministry official said according to the Yonhap News Agency.

The decision comes days after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the South that it should not improve ties with the North without marked progress in nuclear talks.  [Stars & Stripes]

You can read more at the link.

Kim Song, North Korea’s new top envoy to the United Nations, is seen at the U.N. headquarters in New York on Sept. 20, 2018. Kim presented his credentials to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the day. (Yonhap)

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:

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?

I would argue that the fact the US has to voice confidence in South Korea’s willingness to enforce sanctions on North Korea shows there is some doubt and thus they need reminding:

The United States on Wednesday voiced confidence in South Korea’s implementation of sanctions against North Korea amid reports a shipment of North Korean coal docked at a South Korean port.

U.S. broadcaster VOA reported that a Belize-flagged ship docked at South Korea’s southeastern port city of Pohang over the weekend after being spotted at the Russian port of Nakhodka with black material believed to be North Korean coal.

U.N. Security Council Resolution 2371 bans North Korean exports of coal and other mineral resources that could generate revenue for the regime’s development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. U.N. member states are also required to stop and inspect vessels suspected of engaging in illicit activities with the North.  [Yonhap]

You can read more at the link.

Here we go with yet another report of the Russians violating UN sanctions:

Russia engaged in more extensive oil exports to North Korea than had been previously reported, by setting up an illicit trade network that is likely still being used today to evade United Nations sanctions, according a South Korean research organization.

A recent report issued by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul used Russian customs data to document how “one North Korean state enterprise purchased 622,878 tons of Russian oil worth $238 million,” between 2015 and 2017.”

While China is North Korea’s main oil supplier, the ASAN estimate for Russian oil exports to North Korea is significantly higher than the $25 million in sales for the same period that was reported by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) in Seoul.

“Smuggling has always been an important element in the cross-border trade between North Korea and it’s important allies. What the Chinese government and the Russian government to a lesser extent have been doing is to turn a blind eye to these activities,” said Go Myong-Hyun, a North Korea analyst with the Asan Institute For Policy Studies in Seoul.  [Voice of America]

You can read much more of how Russia is aiding North Korea’s efforts to get around UN sanctions at the link.

Here is another example of a foreign officer holding a significant leadership position within a US leadership structure:

A Canadian three-star Army general took office as the first non-American deputy commander of the United Nations Command (UNC) on Monday, underscoring the command’s ongoing efforts for “revitalization.”

During a change-of-responsibility ceremony, Lieut. Gen. Wayne D. Eyre assumed the mantle, which had been dominated by U.S. officers since the command’s inception in 1950 during the Korean War. He replaced Lieut. Gen. Thomas Bergeson, the current commander of the U.S. 7th Air Force.

“This (UNC) revitalization is an important move towards transforming international commitments to the Korean Peninsula security,” Eyre said during the ceremony at Camp Humphreys, a sprawling U.S. military complex in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul.

“I am excited to execute your intent and help shape this journey toward enduring peace and stability,” he added, referring to UNC commander Gen. Vincent Brooks, who depicted Eyre’s appointment as part of UNC “transformational” or revitalization endeavors.  [Yonhap]

You can read more at the link.