WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions today on Chongchongang Shipping Company and Ocean Maritime Management Company, two North Korean companies that attempted to import a concealed shipment of arms and related materiel from Cuba to the DPRK aboard the DPRK-flagged cargo vessel Chong Chon Gang in July 2013. Chongchongang Shipping Company, which is owned by the government of the DPRK, is the owner/operator of the vessel Chong Chon Gang. Ocean Maritime Management Company played a key role in managing the Chong Chon Gang by providing its captain and crew with instructions to conceal the weapons and provide false documentation to the Panamanian authorities. Treasury also identified as blocked property 18 vessels in which these companies have an interest, including the Chong Chon Gang. These designations and identifications were made pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13551, which blocks the property of persons who, among other things, have attempted to import arms or related materiel into the DPRK.
“North Korea uses companies like Chongchongang Shipping and Ocean Maritime Management to engage in arms trading in violation of U.S and international sanctions,” said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen. “The Chong Chon Gang episode, in which the DPRK tried to hide an arms shipment under tons of sugar, is a perfect example of North Korea’s deceptive activity, and precisely the sort of conduct that we are committed to disrupting.”
Chongchongang Shipping Company and Ocean Maritime Management Company used deliberate and evasive methods to conceal the illicit cargo of arms and related materiel aboard the Chong Chon Gang. The shipment included various components of surface-to-air missile systems and launchers, MiG-21 jet fighters parts and engines, shell casings, rocket propelled projectiles, and other ammunition. The cargo was falsely declared to be sugar and spare plastic sacks and was camouflaged and hidden under 200,000 bags of sugar. The crew was given contingency instructions to prepare a false declaration for entering the Panama Canal. This activity points to a clear and conscious attempt to circumvent U.S. and UN sanctions.
The illicit cargo aboard the Chong Chon Gang represents the most substantial consignment of DPRK-related arms and related materiel interdicted since United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1718 was adopted in 2006. The United Nations Panel of Experts, established pursuant to resolution 1874 (2009), declared in its March 2014 report that the shipment itself violated UNSCRs prohibiting the transfer of all arms and related materiel to the DPRK. Furthermore, the incident illustrates the Panel’s finding that the DPRK has developed advanced methods to evade sanctions. These UNSCRs prohibit the transfer of all arms and related materiel (with the exception of small arms and light weapons, upon prior notification to the UN Security Council DPRK Sanctions Committee) to the DPRK. They also prohibit the provision of technical training, advice, services or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of such arms or materiel by the DPRK, its nationals or from its territory.
Treasury’s action against Ocean Maritime Management Company has been taken in support of the United Nations Security Council’s imposition of targeted sanctions against that entity on July 28, 2014 for contributing to a violation of the arms embargo against the DPRK established under UNSCR 1718 (2006), as modified by UNSCR 1874 (2009), and to the evasion of prohibitions established under those resolutions. The United Nations Security Council has also issued guidelines in the form of an Implementation Assistance Notice to encourage States to be vigilant with respect to the DPRK’s attempts to evade sanctions by concealing illicit shipments, to inspect suspect cargo, and to alert their public and private sectors of the risks of facilitating violations of UNCRs.
As a result of today’s actions under E.O. 13551, any property or interests in property of the designated entities that are within U.S. jurisdiction must be frozen. Additionally, transactions by U.S. persons or within the United States involving the designated entities or identified vessels are generally prohibited.
www.treasury.gov
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