Satellite photos reveal that China holds a ship connected to arms transactions between North Korea and Russia

A Russian cargo ship that is suspected of transferring weapons from North Korea to Russia is being moored in China, according to satellite photos that Reuters was able to get. This development comes as American fears over Beijing’s backing of Moscow’s war in Ukraine are intensifying.

The Russian ship Angara, which has been moving thousands of containers thought to carry North Korean armaments to Russian ports since August 2023, according to Britain’s Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank, has been anchored in a Chinese shipyard in eastern Zhejiang province since February.

The ship’s arrival at the Chinese port highlights the difficulties facing the US and its allies in their attempts to sever Russia’s military and financial ties.

China is allegedly helping Russia rebuild its military following its early failures in the Ukraine war, according to U.S. officials, as Russia continues to attack Ukraine and runs out of ammo.

When Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Beijing this week, such support is anticipated to be the main topic of discussion.

Kurt Campbell, the second-ranking diplomat in the State Department, declared this month that Washington would not “sit by” if Beijing strengthened its support for Moscow.

The U.S. State Department, according to a spokesman, has brought up the matter with Chinese officials and was aware of “credible, open-source reports” that the Angara is moored in a Chinese port.

The official cited a United Nations resolution that opens a new tab prohibiting trade with North Korea and requiring U.N. governments to de-register any vessels participating in illicit activity. “We call on all member states to fulfill their obligations under UNSCR 2397,” the person said.

The spokeswoman, using the initials of their official names to refer to China and North Korea, stated, “Secretary Blinken will address a range of concerns, including Russia’s war against Ukraine and Russia-DPRK ties,” when he met with his PRC counterparts this week.

The Angara was stationed at Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard in Zhejiang, which claims to be China’s largest private ship repair enterprise, according to satellite photographs that RUSI got in recent months from businesses including San Francisco-based Planet Labs PBC.

The ship was recognized by its distinctive automated identification system (AIS) transponder, which had been momentarily activated, probably for security purposes, during a crowded section of the Korea Strait on its way to China.

According to RUSI, the Angara had its transponder turned off while it was stopped at Russian and North Korean ports in January before it arrived in China on February 9—presumably for maintenance or repairs. Not too long after reaching China, it stopped broadcasting once more.