Joint Statement on DPRK Sanctions Accountability

The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom, and by the European External Action Service.

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The Governments of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States and the European External Action Service welcomed the April 30 Open Source Centre briefing to the United Nations Security Council on continuing maritime sanctions evasion by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The evidence presented—including vessel imagery, voyage reconstruction, Automatic Identification System (AIS) manipulation, and port call analysis—indicates clear violations of obligations under Security Council resolutions prohibiting the export of DPRK coal and iron ore. The vessels identified as involved in these activities in recent months are DREAM WAVE (IMO 8693073), PEACEFUL 8 (IMO 1039424), ORION (IMO 9638953), FU RUN DA 1 (IMO 1099814), and OSTROV ANTSIFEROVA (IMO 9178070).

We further note the clear evidence supporting the seven vessels nominated to the 1718 Committee in December 2025 for designation under Security Council resolution 2321 that remain under consideration and call on the Committee to act swiftly to designate these vessels: FLYFREE (IMO 1092684), CASIO (IMO 9125786), MARS (IMO 1077402), CARTIER (IMO 1091898), SOPHIA/PRADA (IMO 1079345), ARMANI (IMO 1078561), and YI LI 1 (IMO 1059149).

Under United Nations Security Council resolution 1718, paragraph 12, the Committee is mandated to examine and take appropriate action on information regarding violations and to strengthen implementation of the measures it oversees. Prompt designations are essential to preserving the credibility and effectiveness of the UN sanctions regime.

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