Open Source Intelligence and Analysis (OSIA)

Joe Byrne, a research fellow with the Royal United Services Institute in London, said Pyongyang was constantly plotting new ways to conceal "illicit operations." While shipments of coal or oil might seem relatively harmless, Byrne said these helped fuel the country's military ambitions and weapons programs. "Whether it's revenue generation from exports of coal, or keeping its missile launchers on the road with imported oil, North Korea's sanctions evasion is directly linked to its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program," Byrne said.

Joe Byrne, a research fellow with the Royal United Services Institute in London, said Pyongyang was constantly plotting new ways to conceal "illicit operations". While shipments of coal or oil might seem relatively harmless, Byrne said these helped fuel the country's military ambitions and weapons programmes. "Whether it's revenue generation from exports of coal, or keeping its missile launchers on the road with imported oil, North Korea's sanctions evasion is directly linked to its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program," Byrne told AFP.

Last month the Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank, released satellite imagery of two ships making round trips between the North Korean port of Rajin and a secure port in Dunai in Russia’s far east.