North Korea’s attempts to smuggle luxury goods expose UN sanctions regime that may be open to abuse

Japanese police reportedly raided a used-car showroom in Chiba on suspicion it had attempted to transfer a US$68,000 Lexus vehicle to North Korea

Observers say it’s ‘relatively easy’ to smuggle items to North Korea via third countries with lax border controls, despite the UN sanctions in place

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un “is known to be a big fan of expensive cars”, observers say. Photo: AP

Published: 5:00pm, 12 Dec 2023Updated: 5:07pm, 12 Dec 2023

North Korea’s alleged smuggling of luxury goods in defiance of UN sanctions has come under the spotlight, as Japanese authorities intercepted a Lexus sedan suspected to be bound for Pyongyang on the same day the North recalled its ambassador to Switzerland amid an investigation into ivory trafficking.

The uncovering of the attempted smuggling cases is likely to antagonise the regime in Pyongyang, experts suggest, although they say the United Nations sanctions regime imposed on North Korea is porous and open to abuse. And for every high-end car or shipment of ivory that is detected, according to them, many more are getting through the cordon.

On December 7, Japanese police raided a number of properties in Chiba prefecture on suspicion that the owner of a used-car showroom had attempted to transfer a Lexus to North Korea. The Asahi newspaper reported that the firm had submitted paperwork stating that the 10 million yen (US$68,300) vehicle was being sent to Singapore via Bangladesh.

North Korean security personnel run by a car carrying leader Kim Jong-un at the border village of Panmunjom in April 2018. Photo: Korea Summit Press Pool via AP

Japanese authorities have questioned the owners of the company on suspicion of violating customs regulations and say they are inquiring about previous transfers.