US and South Korea launch task force to block North Korea's illicit oil supplies

The United States and South Korea have set up a task force to stop North Korea obtaining oil illicitly, Reuters reports. The Enhanced Disruption Task Force met for the first time in Washington on 26 March, bringing together more than 30 officials from diplomatic, intelligence, sanctions and maritime interdiction agencies. Officials voiced concern about possible Russian refined oil supplies. UN Security Council resolutions cap North Korea's annual imports at 4 million barrels of crude and 500,000 barrels of refined products. Reuters cites a UN panel finding that North Korean-flagged tankers may have delivered more than 1.5 million barrels of refined products between 1 January and 15 September of the previous year.

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