North Korean ships are now well-known for hiding their activities behind false companies to navigate around international sanctions. Even when “owned” by non-North Koreans, these ships can remain under state control for decades.

An illuminating case in point is the Mu Pho (IMO: 8651178), a 5,300-deadweight-ton cargo ship built in 2009. NK Pro analysis shows that, for over a decade, the ship changed hands between Chinese-linked shell companies and swapped names and flags. Only now is it once again sailing openly under the flag and ownership of the DPRK.

Neil Watts, a former member of the United