North Korean cargo ships have been making frequent trips to the port of Nakodka in Russia in October, raising concerns about the possibility of covert coal trade from North Korea.
Increase in North Korean Ship Trips
According to MarineTraffic data, at least 13 North Korean ships have entered and exited the port of Nakodka 14 times in October. The total number of trips for these ships has reached 20 by early November, with 14 of those occurring in October. In contrast, the number of trips for these ships last year was only 33.
Ship Specifications and Possible Cargoes
Among the 13 North Korean ships that sent position signals to Nakodka last month, at least 9 were observed near the coal terminals. These ships include Bukdaebong, Dakseong, and Geumsong 7, which are under United Nations Security Council and U.S. Treasury sanctions. Additionally, the ships Yunbong 2 and Myungshin, previously identified as involved in illegal coal trade, have also sent signals at this port.
Experts suggest there are several reasons for the increased presence of North Korean ships at Russian coal terminals. Some believe that North Korea may be disguising its coal as Russian coal for export or may be transporting Russian coal in exchange for goods such as grains and weapons.
Moreover, the size of North Korean ships visiting Nakodka has significantly increased. The total deadweight tonnage of these ships has reached 204,065 tons, which is 49 times that of last year. The average length of the ships has also increased from 56 meters last year to 123 meters this year.
This raises the possibility that with the expansion of trade between North Korea and Russia, larger ships are being employed for cargo transport, which could also relate to arms transport. Some experts believe that these ships do not only carry oil and grains but may also be transporting weapons for use in the Ukraine war.
