Washington and Seoul agreed to strengthen countermeasures against the illegal supply of oil to North Korea

 The United States and South Korea agreed to cooperate more closely to counter the supply of oil to the DPRK in excess of UN limits, including from Russia, and to consider the possibility of applying sanctions to violators of UN Security Council resolutions.

This is reported by Yonhap with reference to the South Korean Foreign Ministry, Ukrinform reports.

A separate working group created by Washington and Seoul will develop additional mechanisms and measures to block North Korea's access to the sources of support for the implementation of its nuclear and missile programs. More than 30 officials from the diplomatic and intelligence agencies of the two countries and representatives of their governments took part in its first meeting in Washington. sanctions policy.

During the meeting, the parties discussed ways to counter North Korea's illegal attempts to circumvent restrictions on the purchase of crude oil, stressing that oil imports above the UN limit violate UN Security Council resolutions.

They also stressed the need for close cooperation to counter North Korea's ability to purchase increased volumes of oil, including from Russia, saying it directly supports Pyongyang in developing its illicit nuclear missile programs and building up aggressive military capabilities.

The parties also agreed to consider the possibility of applying independent sanctions against individuals and companies involved in the illegal supply of oil to the DPRK.

According to UN Security Council resolutions, North Korea is prohibited from importing more than 500,000 barrels of crude oil per year. However, in the latest report of the commission of the Committee on Sanctions of the UN Security Council regarding North Korea, it is said that tankers under the flag of North Korea could deliver three times more oil to this country last year - more than 1.5 million barrels.