Russian Tankers Reportedly Caught Selling Oil To North Korea | Zero Hedge
Description: 'caught red handed' too? "The vessels are smuggling Russian fuel from Russian Far Eastern ports to North Korea,"

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# Russian Tankers Reportedly Caught Selling Oil To North Korea

After Chinese vessels were "caught red handed" - in the words of President Trump - by US spy satellites, illegally selling oil to North Korea, and following this morning's news that a Hong Kong ship was seized after transferring oil to North Korea, Reuters is reporting 'two senior Western European security sources' confirm Russian tankers have supplied fuel to North Korea on at least three occasions in recent months by transferring cargoes at sea.

As Reuters reports, the transfers in October and November indicate that smuggling from Russia to North Korea has evolved to loading cargoes at sea since Reuters reported in September that North Korean ships were sailing directly from Russia to their homeland.

> "The vessels are smuggling Russian fuel from Russian Far Eastern ports to North Korea," said the first security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Reuters was unable to independently verify that the vessels had transferred fuel to North Korean vessels, whether the Russian state knew about the sales or how many Russian vessels were involved in the transfers. It was also unclear how much fuel may have been smuggled.

Ship satellite positioning data consulted by Reuters and available on Reuters Eikon shows unusual movements by some of the Russian vessels named by the security sources including switching off the transponders which give a precise location.

The security sources said the Russian-flagged tanker Vityaz was one vessel that had transferred fuel to North Korean vessels.

The Vityaz oil products tanker

The Vityaz left the port of Slavyanka near Vladivostok in Russia on Oct. 15 with 1,600 tonnes of oil, according to Russian port control documents.

> The owner of the Russian vessel denied any contact with North Korean vessels but also said it was unaware that the vessel was fuelling fishing boats.

> Yaroslav Guk, deputy director of the tanker's owner, Vladivostok-based Alisa Ltd, said the vessel had no contacts with North Korean vessels.

> "Absolutely no, this is very dangerous," Guk told Reuters by telephone. "It would be complete madness."

Two other Russian flagged tankers made similar journeys between the middle of October and November, leaving from the ports of Slavyanka and Nakhodka into open seas where they switched off their transponders, shipping data showed.

The sales of oil or oil products from Russia, the world's second biggest oil exporter and a veto-wielding member of the United Nations Security Council, breach U.N. sanctions, the security sources said.

> "Russian vessels have made ship-to-ship transfers of petrochemicals to North Korean vessels on several occasions this year in breach of sanctions," the first security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters.

A second source, who independently confirmed the existence of the Russian ship-to-ship fuel trade with North Korea, said there was no evidence of Russian state involvement in the latest transfers.

> "There is no evidence that this is backed by the Russian state but these Russian vessels are giving a lifeline to the North Koreans," the second European security source said.

The two security sources cited naval intelligence and satellite imagery of the vessels operating out of Russian Far Eastern ports on the Pacific but declined to disclose further details to Reuters, saying it was classified.

Russia's Foreign Ministry and the Russian Customs Service both declined to comment when asked.

* * *

Finally, if these alleged interactions are true, then it highlights the degenerating position of the supposed US hegemon in the eyes of the world. Just today, we saw reports that China's launching of its petro-yuan oil futures contract is days away.

## Comments

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SloMoe Dec 29, 2017 4:30 PM

The Art of the Deal....

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mpnut SloMoe Dec 29, 2017 4:32 PM

Better than the U.S. selling weapons to Ukraine? "Do what I say.. Not what I do"

In reply to The Art of the Deal.... by SloMoe

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BlindMonkey mpnut Dec 29, 2017 4:35 PM

Yep. At least POL has peaceful uses. The same can't be said for anti tank missiles.

In reply to Better than the U.S. selling… by mpnut

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overbet BlindMonkey Dec 29, 2017 4:39 PM

President Rodney Dangerfield

In reply to Yep. At least POL has… by BlindMonkey

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HockeyFool overbet Dec 29, 2017 5:22 PM

Sink all vessels selling oil to the Norks.

Message sent.

In reply to President Rodney Dangerfield by overbet

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cheka HockeyFool Dec 29, 2017 5:35 PM

fungible

In reply to Sink all vessels selling oil… by HockeyFool

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skbull44 cheka Dec 29, 2017 5:41 PM

Propaganda machine churning:

China selling illegally-check

Russia selling illegally-check

Iran selling illegally-soon

Venezueal selling illegally-soon

And, then, to totally jump the shark--NK selling illegally to itself...

In reply to fungible by cheka

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IH8OBAMA BlindMonkey Dec 29, 2017 4:40 PM

Damn Russians and Chinese are always lying and cheating.

In reply to Yep. At least POL has… by BlindMonkey

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Shemp 4 Victory IH8OBAMA Dec 29, 2017 4:58 PM

> two senior Western European security sources

Was one of them Anders Phagg Rasmussen?

> said the first security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Hmmm...

> "There is no evidence...but..." the second European security source said.

A familiar pattern emerges...

> The two security sources cited naval intelligence and satellite imagery...but declined to disclose further details to Reuters, saying it was classified.

Of course, of course...

> Reuters was unable to independently verify that the vessels had transferred fuel to North Korean vessels, whether the Russian state knew about the sales or how many Russian vessels were involved in the transfers.

...but reported it anyway. A typical representative of the modern Western society. Even when death is your neighbour, it is first seen as an opportunity to make money. The Western media have long ago become Satan's mouthpieces on the sale of blood, where profits can be taken.

In reply to Damn Russians and Chinese… by IH8OBAMA

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cossack55 Shemp 4 Victory Dec 29, 2017 5:02 PM

So......the Chinese and Russians both do not like cross-border pipelines? WTF?

In reply to … by Shemp 4 Victory

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caconhma IH8OBAMA Dec 29, 2017 6:33 PM

This is a war: the USA & Israel vs the rest of World.

A war knows no rules except the winner is always right!

In reply to Damn Russians and Chinese… by IH8OBAMA

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HowdyDoody BlindMonkey Dec 29, 2017 4:41 PM

Russian oil tankers with transponders off on the high seas is totally unacceptable

US military aircraft with transponders off flying towards Russia's borders is totally acceptable.

Got it.

In reply to Yep. At least POL has… by BlindMonkey

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Parrotile HowdyDoody Dec 29, 2017 5:38 PM

It appears the transactions "breached UN Sanctions".

The "same" UN that told Trump where to shove it re. the Jerusalem US Embassy fiasco?

Seems there's a clear agenda here - "UN is Important" where US interests gain benefit, "UN is UN-Important" where US interests may be damaged.

Also - evidence please - and evidence from an un-involved third party source, NOT those with an axe to grind (i.e. the US MIC)

(Incidentally both Russian and Chinese tanker captains may simply claim that they were providing "Humanitarian Aid")

In reply to Russian oil tankers with… by HowdyDoody

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shitshitshit BlindMonkey Dec 29, 2017 4:42 PM

These pesky Russians don't even respect the Americanos superiority.

In reply to Yep. At least POL has… by BlindMonkey

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shitshitshit shitshitshit Dec 29, 2017 5:07 PM

they certainly think they can act like Isreali do. Hmm I'll have the Don nuke them for that.

In reply to These pesky Russians don't… by shitshitshit

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One of these i… shitshitshit Dec 29, 2017 6:32 PM

And then perimitr will nuke you.

The difference being that in russia a sizeable portion of the population may well have made it to the shelters whilst here in the west the entire population (excepting a few well heeled or well connected people) will still be trying to find a shelter..

In reply to they certainly think they… by shitshitshit

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shitshitshit shitshitshit Dec 29, 2017 5:16 PM

they certainly think they can act like Isreali do. Hmm I'll have the Don nuke them for that.

In reply to These pesky Russians don't… by shitshitshit

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CNONC BlindMonkey Dec 29, 2017 6:37 PM

When some asshole has his coax trained on your position, an anti tank missle can definitely make things more peaceful. For you at least. Not so peaceful for the guys in the tank.

In reply to Yep. At least POL has… by BlindMonkey

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MozartIII mpnut Dec 29, 2017 5:10 PM

Will Norway be next?

In reply to Better than the U.S. selling… by mpnut

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Stroke SloMoe Dec 29, 2017 4:38 PM

"The Chinese are sellin'" "The Rushins".........

It's prolly the frickin' Nigerians...

In reply to The Art of the Deal.... by SloMoe

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Lumberjack SloMoe Dec 29, 2017 4:43 PM

https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/docs/v1_rul_rule156#_liofwacr

In reply to The Art of the Deal.... by SloMoe

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Pandelis Dec 29, 2017 4:30 PM

my instict ... it is ISIS selling oil ... these guys did it for many years and none was able to detect them

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not dead yet Pandelis Dec 29, 2017 5:12 PM

ISIS oil trade was surely detected from day one but the US let them do it as they were the US first line military in Syria. Just as the US never shut down ISIS funding as the operation ISIS ran had to use banks. Amazing how the US can freeze accounts of lowly officials and Russian rock stars but can't find any ISIS accounts especially when a Swiss banker gave the US a list of 22,000 of them. The bankers reward was a stay in Club FED until he cut a deal and got a multi million payday to keep his mouth shut. When the Russians entered the fray they bombed the crap out of the truck tankers forcing Obama to admit he knew about them. Obama claimed he didn't want an environmental disaster so the US didn't bomb them. After the jig was up the US was forced to bomb them too. Thanks to the bombing of the tankers and the Syrian government now in control of most of Syria the ISIS oil trade is long dead. Unfortunate for Israel as they were buying the ISIS oil cheap.

In reply to my instict ... it is ISIS… by Pandelis

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RagaMuffin Dec 29, 2017 4:30 PM

Wonder how much premium they are getting?

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directaction RagaMuffin Dec 29, 2017 4:36 PM

... a few packets of newly-printed $100s

In reply to Wonder how much premium they… by RagaMuffin

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dark fiber Dec 29, 2017 4:32 PM

World not giving two fucks what the US thinks anymore. Full report.

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johnnycanuck dark fiber Dec 29, 2017 5:09 PM

But but, President bone spur, Chief of the twitter thumb men!

In reply to World not giving two fucks… by dark fiber

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not dead yet dark fiber Dec 29, 2017 5:15 PM

Film at 11.

In reply to World not giving two fucks… by dark fiber

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b-sugar Dec 29, 2017 4:33 PM

Just after those nice Chinese pics, 2 european experts with words as proof, it could be truth but very convenient truth

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Anybody b-sugar Dec 29, 2017 4:50 PM

""The vessels are smuggling Russian fuel from Russian Far Eastern ports to North Korea," said the first security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity."

Must be true; especially "on condition of anonymity".

In reply to Just after those nice… by b-sugar

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researchfix Anybody Dec 29, 2017 5:17 PM

But that´s only now. Soon there will be a pipeline. It´s Eurasia, North Korea is part of us.

In reply to ""The vessels are smuggling… by Anybody

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Stan522 Dec 29, 2017 4:33 PM

No wonder both Russia and China are OK with deploying sanctions publicly.... Because privately they will cheat...

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Shemp 4 Victory Stan522 Dec 29, 2017 5:00 PM

That's how the US does it, so why not?

In reply to No wonder both Russia and… by Stan522

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bonin006 Stan522 Dec 29, 2017 5:22 PM

The art of negotiation:

http://www.wizardschoolcomic.com/index.php?id=310

In reply to No wonder both Russia and… by Stan522

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directaction Dec 29, 2017 4:34 PM

I’d like to see someone try to seize a Russian ship.

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In.Sip.ient directaction Dec 29, 2017 4:40 PM

And for some real fun, try seizing an NK ship...

in the act...

within range of the NK airforce...

In reply to I’d like to see someone try… by directaction

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IH8OBAMA In.Sip.ient Dec 29, 2017 4:42 PM

You mean those bi-planes?

In reply to And for some real fun, try… by In.Sip.ient

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Shemp 4 Victory IH8OBAMA Dec 29, 2017 5:03 PM

Never heard of The Bismarck?

In reply to You mean those bi-planes? by IH8OBAMA

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not dead yet Shemp 4 Victory Dec 29, 2017 5:22 PM

Bismarck a new and very powerful battleship crippled by a torpedo from on old POS biplane. I guess it wasn't Bismarck's day as the carrier the biplane came from was an easy target for a German sub. The sub was out of torpedo's.

In reply to Never heard of The Bismarck? by Shemp 4 Victory

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johnnycanuck not dead yet Dec 29, 2017 5:31 PM

'Some folks, had a bad day.'

Obie wan bin Hopey Changey.

In reply to Bismarck a new and very… by not dead yet

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1 Alabama Dec 29, 2017 4:35 PM

Did the World Court ever function or was it a name only enterprise?

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onwisconsinbadger Dec 29, 2017 4:35 PM

What's Drumpf going to do about it, nothing. Putin has the golden shower tapes. Believe me.

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F em all but 6 onwisconsinbadger Dec 29, 2017 5:19 PM

Yea right. Coming from a Wisconsin Loooooooser jacking off in his mommys basement to tranny kiddy porn. Believe me.

In reply to What's Drumpf going to do… by onwisconsinbadger

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GoldHermit Dec 29, 2017 4:37 PM

It’s simple - China and Russia are no longer going to listen to the US. They will go after the dollar as the sole reserve currency soon.

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Oliver Klozoff GoldHermit Dec 29, 2017 5:36 PM

They have never"listened" to us and have done whatever the hell they wanted to.

Now Trump's cutting the financing of the u.n. makes more sense, it's a stupid joke played on the US and up to now, we were paying for it.

In reply to It’s simple - China and… by GoldHermit

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Egao Dec 29, 2017 4:39 PM

Isn't it like US selling Russian gas as an Democratic shale gas of Freedom to Russophobic EU countries?

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Shemp 4 Victory Egao Dec 29, 2017 5:06 PM

...or maybe it's like the UK buying Russian LNG.

https://www.rt.com/business/414521-sanctioned-russian-lng-arrives-brita…

In reply to Isn't it like US selling… by Egao

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researchfix Egao Dec 29, 2017 5:19 PM

That´s only business. Don´t mention that.

In reply to Isn't it like US selling… by Egao

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Egao Dec 29, 2017 4:39 PM

Isn't it like US selling Russian gas as a Democratic shale gas of Freedom to Russophobic EU countries?

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bunkers Dec 29, 2017 4:42 PM

New boss, same as the old boss.

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