A cargo ship, the Angara, has been transporting weapons from North Korea to Russia since August 2023, according to a British think tank Rusi. The vessel, which is subject to US sanctions, was observed at China’s Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard for repairs or maintenance in February. The ship had previously docked in North Korean and Russian ports with its transponder off. Since then, the ship has stopped shipping activities.
The United States imposed sanctions on the Angara in May 2022 and has tracked its movements using open-source data. The US raised concerns with Chinese authorities about the Angara’s presence in a Chinese port amid ongoing tensions with Russia. China’s position on supporting Russia is likely to be discussed during a visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Beijing.
China’s embassy in Washington expressed opposition to unilateral sanctions but stated that it was not informed about the details of the Angara. The Russian Foreign Ministry also denied having any information on the matter along with China’s Foreign Ministry and the Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard. Efforts by Ukraine and its allies to disrupt military and economic support to Russia through sanctions have been ongoing. Previous satellite images have shown another gunship named Lady R moving between North Korea and Russia as well. The international community continues to closely monitor these activities.