At least one North Korea-flagged bulk carrier linked to coal exports and three DPRK-flagged cargo ships have made voyages to the Chinese port of Longkou since July 1, according to NK Pro analysis of vessel tracking data and satellite imagery.

Automatic Identification System (AIS) data shows that the bulk carrier KO SAN (IMO: 9110236) — which can carry up to 5,030 metric tons of cargo — apparently visited a berth where other DPRK-flagged bulk carriers received cargo earlier this year, though the purpose of its visit is unclear from available imagery. 

The U.S. includes the KO SAN on its North Korea sanctions advisory list of vessels that are “believed to have exported North Korean coal” since August 2017. 

On July 7, the vessel traveled to the Longkou port and stayed outside the port until July 13, when it finally approached the berth. The ship stayed there until July 19 and then started sailing in the direction of North Korea. During this voyage, the KO SAN turned off its AIS transponder around 14:40 UTC on July 19. 

Vessels are required to transmit AIS information to prevent maritime accidents, but North Korean ships are known to evade tracking by turning off the system or using more advanced methods.

AIS signals from the DPRK-flagged bulk carrier KO SAN from July 7 to July 19 | Source: MarineTraffic, kepler.gl

Low-resolution satellite imagery shows a vessel matching the profile of the KO SAN that was at a berth on July 17 and 18 before leaving the port. 

At least three DPRK-flagged cargo ships also appear to have made voyages to the Longkou port between July 1 and 22. AIS data shows that the JA SONG 1 (IMO 8863733), UN BONG 1 (IMO 9054688) and THAE SONG 8 (IMO 9003653) traveled to or near the port in July.

The three vessels were outside the Longkou port as of July 22, according to MarineTraffic. The IMO number of the THAE SONG 8, previously named FOREVER LUCKY, appears on the same U.S. sanctions advisory list as the KO SAN.

Longkou port is an international seaport in China’s Shandong Province. In its latest report on North Korea, the U.N. Panel of Experts states that one North Korea-flagged vessel exported coal during its voyage and collected humanitarian aid at the port in the summer of 2020. 

The report adds that “at least 11 other DPRK-flagged vessels have conducted similar voyages exporting coal and importing humanitarian cargo on the same voyage.”

A recent investigation by NK Pro and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) showed that bulk carriers visiting the port in March and April this year transported “white parcels of cargo” that “appear similar to other probable aid cargo deliveries detected from China to the DPRK” in the summer of 2020.

Edited by Bryan Betts