As iced-over waters melt into spring, North Korean coal smuggling appears to have resumed: At least four cargo ships loaded up with coal at Nampho port in February 2021, an NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery showed. The resurgence of activity came after no ships were caught visiting the coal yard in available satellite imagery since at least the beginning of the year.

The United Nations sanctioned the sale of DPRK coal in 2017, but the smuggling of North Korean anthracite has persisted. According to the U.N. Panel of Experts on North Korea, which monitors the impact and