The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on two people and three firms it alleges helped the North Korea evade sanctions.
A statement released by the Treasury department read, “OFAC designated Taiwan-based individuals Huang Wang Ken and Chen Mei Hsiang and the Taiwan-based entities Jui Pang Shipping Co Ltd (Jui Pang) and Jui Zong Ship Management Co Ltd (Jui Zong), as well as Hong Kong-based entity Jui Cheng Shipping Company Limited (Jui Cheng), pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13810 for having engaged in at least one significant importation from or exportation to North Korea of any goods, services, or technology.”
Treasury Under Secretary Sigal Mandelkar said, “Treasury will implement and enforce existing US and UN sanctions on individuals, entities, and vessels involved in illicit ship-to-ship transfers with North Korean flagged vessels,” adding that “Shipping companies trading with North Korea are exposing themselves to significant sanctions risk, despite the deceptive practices they try to employ.”
According to the Treasury Department, the accussed, Huang Wang Ken, Chen Mei Hsiang, Jui Pang, Jui Cheng, and Jui Zong, had interests in the now-blocked ship Shang Yuan Bao, which was used to transport 1.7 million litres of petroleum products to a North Korean vessel, which then offloaded its cargo at the North Korean port of Nampo.
One of the individuals held responsible is Huang Wang Ken, the CEO and largest shareholder of Jui Pang, a Taiwan-based shipping company. The Treasury Department alleges that Kang and his associated falsely declared the ship’s destination to be the Philippines, before sending it out of international waters and into a Ship-To-Ship (STS) transfer with a North Korean vessel.
The release states that “all property and interests in property of these individuals and entities that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC.”
United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions on North Korea were intensified in 2017, following the country’s missile test. The US says that illicit STS transfers have resulted in North Korea receiving far more fuel than what is accounted by the UN 1718 Committee. In 2017, the US claimed that Russia and China were supplying North Korea with fuel via STS transfers.
