Russia has blocked a US request that UN sanctions be slapped on two Russian shipping companies and six of their ships over oil shipments to North Korea, diplomatic sources said today.
The Russian move was supported by China, North Korea's main trading partner. Members of the UN Security Council had until today to raise objections to the US request.
The Russian decision was not a surprise. Moscow's ambassador to the United Nations had vowed last week to oppose sanctions on the targeted entities, contending that the US evidence was unconvincing.
The United States announced its own sanctions on August 21 against Russian shippers Primorye Maritime Logistics and Gudzon Shipping as well as six of their ships, saying they had violated an international ban on oil shipments to North Korea.
Russia and China had previously blocked a US attempt in early August to have a Russian bank added to the UN sanctions list as well as an official and two North Korean entities.
In July, the two countries refused to order a halt to oil exports to North Korea, despite a US report asserting that Pyongyang had exceeded its import quota for 2018 set under UN sanctions.
Moscow and Beijing have asked the Security Council to consider easing the sanctions to reward North Korea for opening a dialogue with the United States and halting its ballistic missile tests. The dialogue is currently at an impasse.
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