Satellite images reveal that Chinese ships have sold oil to neighboring country North Korea despite international restrictions. United States satellite reconnaissance has captured the ships selling oil not once, but 30 times since October 2017.
South Korean officials told the Chosun Ilbo that the ships were allegedly trading in the West Sea between China and South Korea in a bid to bypass strict United Nations sanctions on oil exports to the pariah regime over its ongoing nuclear and weapons programme.
“We need to focus on the fact that the illicit trade started after a UN Security Council resolution in September drastically capped North Korea’s imports of refined petroleum products,” an unnamed source told the paper.
Many acclaimed geopolitical analysts have stated previously that North Korea is to a degree, an extension of China. Given the increased tensions in the region its no wonder that China is aiding its communist neighbor. Kim Jung Un also recently detailed plans to demolish America, although many believe his claims to be mere propaganda, the reality is that Russia, China, and Iran are aiding the hermit state at an unsettling rate. No longer does the crisis explicitly involve North Korea, instead if the United States were to strike North Korea either as a first strike or as a response, retaliation could come from a much bigger foe.
Interestingly enough China is not the only nation aiding the ‘rocket man’, instead recently released information details that the missiles tested by North Korea are not inherently Korean in nature. Instead, analysts confirm that the missiles were from a Ukrainian factory with historical ties to Russia’s missile program. The missiles were reportedly purchased off of the black market and explain the sudden success in regards to missile tests by the regime.
In addition, fears have raised over the possibility of the hermit state using bioweapons according to recent publications in regards to North Korea testing missiles loaded with anthrax. To add credence to these claims, not more than a week after publication, a North Korean defector was found to have anthrax antibodies in their bloodstream. The former North Korean soldier is one of at least four who have defected to South Korea this year.
Senior defense analyst Shin Jong Woo said the anthrax vaccine was probably given to North Korean soldiers working on biological weapons projects. However, the North Korean regime continually denies that they are testing bioweapons. On the other hand, if confirmed, the bioweapons projects being tested by North Korea are another violation of international law.
China made public its commitment to thwart North Korea’s rhetoric, but again, according to the satellite imagery, it would appear as though China is aiding the regime. China has long stated that no war will unfold on the Korean Peninsula and that any strike by the United States would be met not only with North Korean resistance but with Chinese resistance as well.
China’s recent actions of aiding the hermit state further exemplify the reality that any war with North Korea is a war with China as well.
Donald Trump recently stated his feelings in regards to the latest findings.
Caught RED HANDED – very disappointed that China is allowing oil to go into North Korea. There will never be a friendly solution to the North Korea problem if this continues to happen!
Caught RED HANDED – very disappointed that China is allowing oil to go into North Korea. There will never be a friendly solution to the North Korea problem if this continues to happen!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2017
Adding that for almost twenty years he has warned of the consequences.
I've been saying it for a long, long time. #NoKo pic.twitter.com/LQl7tGhMdO
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2017
Works Cited
Elizabeth Shim. “Report: North Korea soldier found to have anthrax antibodies.” UPI. . (2017): . .
Nicole Darrah. “China spotted illegally selling oil to North Korea, report says.” Fox News. . (2017): . .
John Bacon. “Anthrax antibodies in defector raises fears North Korea is developing chemical weapons.” USA Today. . (2017): . .
William J. Broad and David E. Sanger. “North Korea’s Missile Success Is Linked to Ukrainian Plant, Investigators Say.” NYTimes. . (2017): . .
