A recent incident occurred when a cargo ship involved in North Korea’s illegal coal exports collided with a Chinese vessel and sank. In late February, a North Korean cargo ship sailing in the West Sea with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) turned off collided with a Chinese vessel near a port off the southeastern coast of China. Nearly 20 North Korean crew members are believed to have died in the accident. However, despite the shipwreck and significant loss of life, the North Korean and Chinese governments have made no mention of the incident. This appears to stem from concerns that acknowledging the accident could lead to recognizing violations of sanctions against North Korea.
Illegal smuggling between North Korea and China is nothing new. Even after the UN strengthened sanctions against North Korea in 2017, North Korea has continued to smuggle coal, petroleum, and seafood through China. In 2018, satellite images captured North Korean ships engaging in illegal ship-to-ship transfers of crude oil off the Chinese coast. In 2019, it was reported that large quantities of North Korean coal were brought into Chinese ports. Illegal trade between the continued in 2020, with frequent confirmations of North Korean ships traveling to and from Chinese ports with their AIS off. These cases suggest that the Chinese government is not strictly enforcing sanctions against North Korea and is instead allowing the North Korean economy to continue functioning.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has an obligation to comply with international law. However, condoning North Korea’s smuggling activities is a dereliction of its responsibilities as a global power. If the Chinese government turns a blind eye to or fails to crack down on these illegal activities, it will negatively impact not only North Korea’s denuclearization but also the stability of Northeast Asia. To maintain the trust of the international community, China must strictly adhere to sanctions against North Korea and take measures to block illegal transactions. In particular, surveillance of maritime areas where smuggling occurs should be strengthened, and enforcement against sanctions violations must be rigorous.
The recent collision incident starkly exposes the dangers of smuggling and also has humanitarian implications. Operating with the AIS turned off is a tactic intended to conceal illegal activities, and it hinders swift rescue efforts in the event of an accident. As a result, the delay in rescue operations wasted the golden time that could have saved lives, leading to the tragic loss of many crew members. What is even more troubling is the silence from both China and North Korea on the tragedy. North Korea has consistently shown a disregard for human life, treating its people merely as tools of the state. Workers are mobilized for smuggling under extremely hazardous conditions, with the government taking no responsibility when accidents occur. China, too, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a member of the international community, also has humanitarian responsibilities. Its apparent attempt to cover up this incident is deeply disappointing.
This incident once again underscores the need for the international community to focus on the realities of illegal smuggling between North Korea and China. First, the UN and major countries must strengthen monitoring to ensure that China strictly enforces sanctions against North Korea and pressure the Chinese government to actively take action. Second, if violations of sanctions are confirmed, the international community should consider expanding secondary boycotts (third-party sanctions) against Chinese companies and entities that condone such violations. Third, the international community, including South Korea, should work together to enhance maritime surveillance and develop measures to block North Korea from engaging in illegal actions.
China’s support for North Korea is rooted in strategic interests, but this close alliance is becoming an increasing liability for China. To eliminate smuggling and prevent future tragedies, China must make a firm and deliberate choice. For sanctions against North Korea to have real impact, China—North Korea’s patron—must uphold its responsibilities and comply with international norms as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. This recent collision places China at a pivotal moment: will it act as a responsible member of the international community, or continue to overlook illegal activities and risk further erosion of international trust?