The US claims Russia has been shipping oil products into North Korea in volumes violating a United Nations cap.
White House security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Thursday that new sanctions would follow as a result.
Reuters reported that the claim was made on the day after a UN panel monitoring North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme was dissolved following a veto by Russia.
“At the same time that Moscow vetoed the panel’s mandate renewal, Russia has been shipping refined petroleum from Port Vostochny to the DPRK [North Korea],” Kirby said.
UN sanctions limit the country to 500,000 barrels of product imports per year.
No details of the tankers involved were given, and Moscow and Pyongyang have not yet commented.
Kirby told reporters that in March alone, Russia exported 165,000 barrels to its neighbour.
He argued that these shipments could be maintained indefinitely due to the proximity of the two countries’ ports.
Kirby pledged that the US would continue to sanction “those working to facilitate arms and refined petroleum transfers between Russia and the DPRK”.
Working with partners
“We have previously worked to coordinate autonomous sanctions designations with our partners — including Australia, the European Union, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and the UK — and we will continue to do so,” he added.
New sanctions could come as early as this month.
Washington has also accused North Korea of transferring weapons to Russia for use in the Ukraine war, which Russia and North Korea deny.
