Seoul Disregards Sanctions As It Seeks To Improve Ties With North

South Korea has taken a selective approach to implementing some U.N. sanctions on North Korea, reports NK News, a website that provides analysis on North Korea. 

In 2018, South Korea exported nearly 350 tons of petroleum products that were not reported to the U.N., the website reported on Wednesday. 

U.N. Security Council Resolution 2397, which imposed sanctions on North Korea for its ballistic missile program, requires that all such exports be reported to the 1718 Sanctions Committee within 30 days. 

South Korea maintains that it is cooperating with U.N., reported Reuters. 

Some of the 342.9 tons of petroleum products were used to host family reunion events and renovate the joint liaison office in Kaesong, said a spokesman for the South Korean Ministry of Unification.

Seoul also transferred around US$1 million worth of sanctioned construction equipment for work on the liaison office, Reuters reported in August. 

South Korean officials indicated that the transfer of sanctioned materials that do not bring economic gain to the North does not violate the intent of the measures. There are no exemptions in any sanctions for the transfer of prohibited goods when there is no economic gain, noted NK News. 

In September 2018, the U.S. warned the council that Pyongyang had imported four times the allowed amount of petroleum products in the first eight months of 2018.