WSJ: 7 Nations Join Forces to Hunt Ships Smuggling Fuel to N. Korea

The Wall Street Journal on Friday cited U.S. military officials as saying that Washington is convening a multinational coalition to expand the surveillance of ships smuggling fuel to North Korea in violation of UN sanctions.

The report said a U.S. navy ship will host the new coalition that aims to better track ships violating UN sanctions on North Korea.

The Journal said the coalition is the first unified international effort to monitor ship traffic in the year since the Trump administration launched its “maximum-pressure” sanctions campaign, aimed at strong-arming North Korea to abandon its nuclear and missile programs.

The U.S. and its allies will mobilize warships and military aircraft as part of the coalition which will include the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, South Korea and France.

The report said that over 50 officials from these countries will gather at the USS Blue Ridge, the command and control ship for the U.S. Seventh Fleet, stationed at Yokosuka, Japan.

When this will actually take place is still unclear.

A joint Enforcement Coordination Center has also been established on the U.S. Navy ship.

The report said the new coalition is not a prelude to a more aggressive blockade but is expected to enable better communication aimed at stronger monitoring of ships violating N. Korea sanctions.