Despite sanctions, N Korea exported coal to South and Japan via Russia: intelligence sources

Most likely Japan and South Korean DID NOT KNOW the coal was from North Korea. You think the Russians were being forthright in stating the origins of the coal BEFORE they took S.Korean and Japanese money?

Coal is a commodity and there are no real requirements on trace-ability. Back tracing every last bit of coal, oil, gas would be nearly impossible.

The fact that they switched boats at a port in Russia would make it seem like the broker wanted to hide the origin. Based on this set up I highly doubt that the Japanese nor South Korean buyers were available of the actual origin of the coal. Most likely they were told it is coal from Russia.

Going as far as to condemning the governments is pretty ludicrous as they are not managing the coal imports.

I wonder if this is Russia once again stirring up the pot to create problems where there were none. That Putin and company are not to be trusted.

The biggest culprit here is Russia. They are the ones knowingly conducting the shell game with the coal to disguise its origin. If the U.N. and the rest of the world doesn’t slam the Russians with immediate sanctions then really it is all BS. Which indeed we all know it is!

Russia played this dirty game before, by taking coal from occupied Ukrainian territories and "rebranding" it so it can be later sold to Poland.

A government of thugs.

The very reason a Naval blockade of NK is being called. Ship’s Logs and Cargo documentation will identify violators even if the tracking devises are turned off. Either we’re all in this together or we abide by NK becoming a world Nuclear threat. NK with a WMD would have no reason to be beholding to China or Russia any longer and they like the rest of the world are within her range and age old vengeance's.

That is apparently illegal route that are use and probably linked to local mafia trade.

That is actually one of the biggest UN limitation. Ending illegal market route is now - after terrorism - a world goal to insure peace in the world and create a better world that will help humanity to improve for the better instead of the worst.

First, the country, after that US directives.

Pathetic and disturbing some Russia and NK apologists here are blaming Japan and SK for this Russian deception. This is 100% Russia's fault for hiding the origin of this coal to give vital hard cash to the NK government so they can nuke America.

Russia should be treated as an enemy nation now and their third world economy sent back 3 decades. They have never been developed in their entire mediocre history so they should not mind much

Yes, Japan continues to be directed by Washington. The US says don't trade and japan doesn't trade. Cant the Japanese people see that the US is making them a target? The only nation with the spine to stand up to American aggression is NK. Whatever happened to the proud Japanese people? Japan has been under the heel of the US for over 70 years. When will the people DEMAND their government regain Japanese sovereignty?

Pathetic and disturbing some Russia and NK apologists here are blaming Japan and SK for this Russian deception.

What's more pathetic and disturbing is that some people think that the governments of Japan, South Korea, or even the USA are genuinely clueless about trade relations with North Korea.

WELL WELL WELL.

To sell to NK is one thing, BUT TO BUY from them? My my!

Coal is everywhere

What a hilarous situation. Abe wants to play the tough guy against North Korea and is using propaganda on a regular basis to spread fear among the population, but somehow Japan can’t even properly check where it’s getting some of its imported coal from.

I mean there is no way they can’t properly trace this, blaming only Russian is hypocyte. Japan and South Korea are just closing their eyes on this because buisiness should go on. Together with China, this is quite typical of those countries, whenever buisiness is involved, they suddenly forget everything else and pretend not to know. Their leaders do the show in front of the population to get their political agenda, but behind the doors, this is business as usual.

Oh, don’t worry. Abe will call this “fake news,” taking after his golfing buddy. And the LDP will nod in sheepish agreement. Then they’ll change the “occupation” consititution that gave women the right to vote and made the government responsible to the people.

Beowulf: "Most likely Japan and South Korean DID NOT KNOW the coal was from North Korea. You think the Russians were being forthright in stating the origins of the coal BEFORE they took S.Korean and Japanese money?"

It's their job to look into it. And in any case, isn't Japan also supporting sanctions on Russia that they are asking to be exempt from despite supporting?

Japan will deny this, then when it is unequivocal they will say, "Please understand and cooperate! We support isolating NK and increasing pressure on them through sanctions, but we would also like their coal. We do not feel this is a conflict. Please understand it is different than if other countries do it, because we are not bad."

If these reports prove to be true, severe sanctions should be placed on Japan and S Korea. Furthermore, if the goverment or anyone in the beauracracy knew, Abe and his entire cabinet should resign in disgrace.