N. Korea exports 1.5 mil. tons of coal in 2025 despite sanctions: lawmaker

North Korea continued illegal exports of coal and minerals last year in violation of United Nations sanctions, with coal exports reaching 1.5 million tons, a lawmaker said Sunday, citing South Korea's spy agency.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) assessed that North Korea's imports of refined oil from China and Russia in 2025 also exceeded seven times the 500,000-barrel cap set by the U.N., according to Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the main opposition People Power Party. "North Korea has continued to export minerals, such as coal and iron ore, which are completely banned under U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions, by using both North Korean-flagged and foreign-flagged cargo vessels from China, Russia and third countries, in addition to smuggling in refined petroleum products," Rep. Yu said in a press release. "In particular, North Korea's coal exports were estimated at around 1.5 million tons, and it is believed to have recently sought to increase exports to China and third countries by falsely labeling the coal as Russian in origin," he added.

U.N. Security Council resolutions ban