Since August 2023, the Russian ship known as the Angara has made at least eleven trips between ports in North Korea and Russia, according to British think tank Rusi. Satellite images have raised suspicion that the ship may be transporting weapons from North Korea to Russia, reports Reuters.
The Angara was identified using its transponder of the AIS system, which shares navigation and identification information. The vessel was documented at China’s Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard since February, which is China’s largest private ship repair company. The Angara had its transponder turned off when it docked in ports in North Korea and Russia in January but turned it back on as it moved towards China. Despite US sanctions imposed on the ship in May 2022, it has continued operations between North Korean and Russian ports.
The matter involving the Angara was brought up with Chinese authorities by the US when the ship was spotted in a Chinese port. The US has requested China not to support Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian partner countries have collaborated to impose sanctions on an attempt to suppress military and economic support for Russia.
During his visit to Beijing this week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed China’s support for Russia as one of the top agenda items. The Chinese embassy in Washington and the Chinese Foreign Ministry both denied any knowledge of the Angara situation. Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry and Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard did not respond to queries regarding this matter.
