U.S. may begin to monitor Russia’s eastern ports over North Korean sanctions

UA Wire ^ | May 5, 2017

[TigerLikesRooster]

U.S. may begin to monitor Russia’s eastern ports over North Korean sanctions

The administration of the White House plans to undertake special monitoring of several Russian ports in Primorsky Krai in light of the implementation of sanctions against North Korea. Such a provision is included in a bill adopted Thursday by the U.S. Congressional House of Representatives.

If the law is passed, the U.S. president will be obliged to provide congressmen with a full report annually, for a period of five years, on the ports and airports involved in the violation of sanctions against North Korea by any countries. In particular, as RIA Novosti informs, this refers to Vladivostok, Nakhodka and Vanino, as well as ports in China, Iran, Syria and other countries.

Within the same bill, it is proposed that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security be given the right to inspect air and sea vessels that visited North Korea.

[TigerLikesRooster]

I don't know if Russian claim is legit or not. Anyway, their state organs are starting to scream.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Here are articles from Russian and Russia-related outfits. Apparently, they are going to keep dealing with N. Korea no matter what others think. It is not as if they make a lot of money by dealing with N. Korea. This is purely political.


‘Declaration of war’: Russian MPs blast US plans to enforce N. Korea sanctions on foreign territory

5 May, 2017

A senior Russian senator says the American bill allowing the US Navy to enforce international sanctions on North Korea through the control of Russian ports is a violation of international law, and is equal to a declaration of war.

“The realization of this [US] bill includes a proposed force scenario in which the US Navy would conduct compulsory inspections of all ships. Such a scenario is simply unthinkable because it means a declaration of war,” RIA Novosti quoted upper house Committee for International Relations head Konstantin Kosachev as saying.

The comment came shortly after the US Congress approved the bill with additional sanctions against North Korea, allowing for the possible establishment of US control over seaports and sea routes in the Far East, including the Russian ports of Vanino, Nakhodka and Vladivostok.

US Congressional Bill Calls for Inspections of Russian Far East Seaports, Sanctions against North Korea

By Alex Gorka
Global Research, May 08, 2017

On May 4, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to impose new sanctions on North Korea targeting its shipping industry and slave labor among other things as tensions continued to mount over North Korea’s advancing nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The Korean Interdiction and Modernization of Sanctions Act (H.R. 1644) is designed to undercut North Korea’s economy by cracking down on the network of banks and industries that help it avoid Western sanctions. In particular, it cracks down on North Korean shipping and use of international ports.

The bill bars ships owned by North Korea or by countries that refuse to comply with UN resolutions from operating in American waters or docking at US ports. The legislation also targets those who employ North Korean slave labor. Anyone who uses the slave labor that North Korea exports to other countries would be subject to sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

The Act also requires the Trump administration to determine within 90 days whether North Korea is a state sponsor of terrorism. Such a designation would trigger more sanctions, including restriction on US foreign assistance.

The bill includes “inspection authorities” over Chinese, Iranian, Syrian and Russian ports. The latter include the ports of Nakhodka, Vanino and Vladivostok.

No UN Security Council’s resolution delegated the authority to inspect foreign seaports to the United States. The inclusion of such measures is seen as a hostile act. The legislation is a flagrant violation of international law.

[tom paine 2]

Russia used to tow their newly commissioned nuclear submarines from Vladivostok to north Korea to outfit the ships living quarters so there is some sort of relationship.

[tet68]

Ah, beautiful Vanino, gateway to scenic Kolyma. /s

Kolyma, Kolyma.
Amazing planet.
12 months of winter,
the rest is summer.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"It is not as if they make a lot of money by dealing with N. Korea. This is purely political."

Overall, they are probably losing money with the Koreans in their relationship. That said, you are right this is purely political. I know that Vladivostok is close, but I don't think they deal with North Korea that much. Even if they are still trading with them I think having China cut them off will still be devastating and the Ruskies can't make up for the loss of Chinese trade.

[OldGuard1]

The DPRK isn’t stupid when it comes to these things; they’ve pulled off complex international bank heists, drug and weapons smuggling into China which China hates, etc. If you think they can’t route smuggled goods through Russia rather than China, think again. Only if Russia secures their border, China theirs, and navies (anyone’s) secure the coastlines can their supply routes be effectively combated.