The United States will soon formally request that the U.N. Security Council committee impose sanctions on seven ships. A State Department official confirmed on Monday, November 3, 2025, that these vessels are suspected of violating existing U.N. sanctions against North Korea.
According to the U.S. official, who spoke anonymously, these seven ships have been involved in the illegal export of North Korean coal and iron ore to China. These exports are a significant source of revenue for Pyongyang, traditionally generating between $200 million and $400 million annually.
“These nominations are not merely administrative procedures. They are crucial for ensuring accountability regarding U.N. sanctions violations and for halting exports that directly finance North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs,” the official emphasized.
However, the Security Council’s 15-member sanctions committee operates by consensus, meaning that agreement from all members is required. It remains uncertain whether North Korea’s allies, Russia and China, will support the new sanctions. Neither the Russian nor Chinese missions to the U.N. in New York immediately responded to requests for comment on the matter.
North Korea has been subject to U.N. sanctions since 2006, imposed due to its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. While these measures have been unanimously reinforced over the years, the Council currently faces a stalemate. China and Russia advocate for easing the sanctions, hoping to persuade Pyongyang to resume denuclearization talks.
Current Security Council sanctions include a ban on North Korean exports such as coal, iron, lead, textiles, and seafood, as well as limits on imports of crude oil and refined petroleum products.
The Security Council has the authority to freeze a ship’s assets, prohibit its entry into ports, and require its country of registration to “de-flag” the vessel. The United States has indicated for months that it would propose new vessels for U.N. designation, though the timing of this specific action was not immediately clear.
Nuclear-armed North Korea has largely ignored diplomatic overtures from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has expressed a desire to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Meanwhile, North Korea has significantly advanced its missile and conventional military capabilities.
“Without consequences for violations, sanctions risk becoming ineffective, allowing threats to international peace and security, such as the DPRK’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, to continue to grow unchecked,” warned the State Department official, referring to North Korea by its formal name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.