Emergency Contact IG Circular: Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) sanctions update Home Latest updates News IG Circular: Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) sanctions update 4 May 2020 Download Sign up for alerts This circular is an update on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) sanctions enforcement circular that we published in 2019. It has been updated following the recently published 2019/2020 UN Panel of Experts of North Korea Sanctions Report . Background The report notes that the DPRK regime has not taken steps to end its nuclear programme, which continues in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Stringent sanctions measures have therefore remained in force. According to the Panel of Experts, the DPRK regime has continued to raise revenue for its ballistic missile programme through the illicit import of refined petroleum and export of commodities such as sand and coal. Maritime activities have been identified as facilitating this revenue stream for DPRK. The message from the UN and national enforcement agencies is clear. Shipowners are strongly advised to take note that sanctions monitoring, and surveillance continues at a pace and through the co-operation of UN Member States more evidence is being collated and reported where there has been such a breach. Evidence of use of non-DPRK vessels The report notes a continuing use of non-DPRK flagged vessels that are used to perform illicit ship-to-ship (STS) cargo transfers at sea.The report further notes that DPRK has changed its trading methods to evade detection using STS transfers between non-DPRK flagged vessels in international waters and subsequent delivery of unlawful cargo direct to Nampo. Such vessels have conducted operations several times over before they are detected. These operations have amounted to the DPRK receiving almost three times the UN specified total cap of 500,000 barrels of refined petroleum (paragraph 5 of resolution 2397 (2017)). With the assistance