Satellites spy North Korea’s huge imports of Russian oil

North Korea has allegedly imported more than a million barrels of oil from Russia this year, flouting United Nations sanctions, according to satellite analysis.

- NAMITA SINGH

The research suggests that North Korean oil tankers have visited Russia's Vostochny port more than 40 times since March in defiance of international restrictions.

These findings, released by the UK-based Open Source Centre and the BBC, are supported by satellite images, automatic identification system (AIS) data and maritime patrol imagery, the Open Source Centre said.

“Dozens of high-resolution satellite images, AIS data, and imagery released by maritime patrol missions tasked with monitoring North Korea’s UN-sanctions-busting activities show North Korean tankers repeatedly loading at an oil terminal at Russian port Vostochny,” the report stated. Russia hasn’t responded to the allegations, it added.