Smuggling of used vehicles has emerged in Hyesan, Yanggang Province, prompting North Korea’s Ministry of State Security to launch an inspection, Daily NK has learned.<\/p>\n
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Daily NK source in Yanggang Province reported on Monday that the ministry began the inspection at the end of last month. The inspection was initiated after reports that some used vehicles imported from China were smuggled in without state approval.<\/p>\n
Some trading companies in Hyesan engaged in illegal smuggling of used cars without obtaining a trade permit, known as a “waku<\/em>,” due to the permit’s high cost of about RMB 30,000 (USD 4,160).<\/p>\n “Cars are items subject to North Korea sanctions, so the state requires they be imported only after obtaining a waku<\/em>,” the source said. “However, because the waku<\/em> cost so much, some trading companies secretly brought in vehicles without it.”<\/p>\n The U.N. Security Council prohibits the direct or indirect supply, sale, or transfer of means of transportation to North Korea under Resolution 2397.<\/p>\nCareers of Hyesan’s powerful officials may be on the chopping block\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n