Russia-North Korea Arms Trade Takes a Hit

South Korea has sanctioned seven North Korean nationals and a pair of ships over their suspected role in the arms trade with Russia.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry said the targets were involved "in the procurement of materials and financing for North Korea's nuclear and missile development through the transportation of military supplies and arms trade between Russia and North Korea."

The move comes amid mounting evidence that Russian troops have been using North Korean missiles and other munitions during their offensives in Ukraine, with Seoul saying earlier this month it was opening an investigation into reports that decades-old 122-millimeter shells had been discovered in the country.

Other reasons cited by South Korea for the new sanctions include involvement in shipping refined oil to the North, in violation of United Nations Security Council sanctions that limit the country to 500,000 barrels per year to stifle the Kim Jong Un regime's nuclear and missile programs.

Washington and Seoul in March launched a task force to curb illicit flows of oil and other resources to North Korea.

The vessels hit with South Korean sanctions included Russian cargo ships the Maia-1 and Maria. Ship tracking data and satellite imagery have revealed these two vessels, along with sister ships the Angara and Lady R, have ferried suspected arms shipments to Russia from North Korean ports on a number of occasions since last year.

Japan on Friday announced its own suite of sanctions on 11 entities and one person, also in connection with illicit arms sales to Moscow.

"Russia's procurement of arms from North Korea violates the relevant U.N. resolutions that completely prohibit the transfer of arms and related materials to and from North Korea," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said during a press briefing, Japan's Asahi Shimbun reported.

Both Russia and North Korea have denied arms deals are taking place. The Russian Foreign Ministry and the North Korean embassy in China did not immediately respond to written requests for comment.

"These deliveries may have kept the Russian military supplied with munitions for months," wrote the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies in an analysis published Wednesday.

"While these goods have generally been of lower quality than their Western alternatives, they have nonetheless kept the Russian Armed Forces relatively well supplied," the think tank said, adding that this has contributed to Russia's gains in Ukraine.

Japan and South Korea's twin sanctions packages come just days before they join China in Seoul for talks organized to find common ground amid tensions between Beijing and the U.S. allies.

The trilateral summit is expected to feature discussions on security issues, trade and economic cooperation, science and technology, sustainable development, and public health, The Japan Times cited government sources as saying.

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