North Korean vessels illegally exported coal overseas and returned with "humanitarian aid cargo" on at least 11 occasions in 2020, according to an unpublished United Nations Panel of Experts report seen by NK News, once again underscoring the lack of sanctions enforcement or surveillance in Chinese port areas.

It's unclear what type of "humanitarian aid cargo" was loaded on the vessels, but an unspecified U.N. member state reported the exchange to the Panel of Experts.