US places Eritrea under fresh sanctions for military deal with North Korea

Washington imposed sanctions on the Eritrean navy after Asmara was found to have purchased military equipment from the North Korean regime – and not for the first time.

Eritrea’s dealings were revealed in a UN Security Council Sanctions Committee report dated 17 February 2017.

This described the “interdiction” of a cargo from North Korea via China to Eritrea.

The cargo was supposed to be for Eritech Computer Assembly & Communications Technology PLC, which operates from Asmara.

But when the UN experts examined the cargo it contained 45 boxes of military radio equipment. This purchase violated UN Sanctions. [See extract from the report below]

The UN report concluded that “The 2016 interdiction is the second documented interception of military-related items exported from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to Eritrea and confirms ongoing arms-related cooperation between the two countries.”

The United States has now  banned any dealings with the Eritrean navy.

When asked why this was the case on Thursday 30 March, the State Department spokesman would not throw further light on the story.

This was the interchange with a reporter: “I noticed the Eritrean navy is on the list. Can you give a bit more detail as to how exactly they’re involved with this illicit trade? And is that notable for the navy of a country to be sanctioned like this?”

Senior State Department Official One: “I really can’t get into the specifics of why entities were sanctioned.”


Shipment of military communications materiel to Eritrea

  1. The Panel investigated the July 2016 interdiction reported by a Member State of an air shipment suspected to be in violation of the resolutions. The shipment originated in China and was destined for a company in Eritrea, Eritech Computer Assembly & Communications Technology PLC (see annex 8-1), according to airway bills.[1] Given the involvement of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the cargo’s manufacture and logistics, the Panel concluded that it had violated the arms embargo (paragraph 9 of resolution 1874 (2009)).

    Inspection

  1. The Panel inspected the consignment of 45 boxes and determined that the contents were military radio communications products and related accessories, including high-frequency software-defined radios, crypto-speaker microphones, GPS antennas, high-frequency whip antennas, clone cables, camouflaged rucksacks and carry-pouch (see figure 23 and annex 8-2). Certain boxes and articles were labelled “Glocom”, and almost all of the items had been advertised by the company Global Communications Co (Glocom) on its website[2] (see annex 8-2).

Figure 23

Crypto-speaker microphone (top right) with box (top left) and software-defined radio (bottom)

Eritrea N Korea 1

 

  1. Inside the rucksacks, the Panel discovered reinforcement material consisting of cigarette packaging with Korean script and “made in DPR Korea” labels (see figure 24).

Eritrea North Korea 2

Shipper

  1. The air waybills listed the shipper as Beijing Chengxing Trading Co. Ltd.[3] According to the Chinese business registry, the company is still active, mainly trading in electronics, mining equipment and machinery (see annex 8-3). Mr. Pei Minhao (裴民浩) was listed as a legal representative until 26 February 2016 and still owns most shares in the company (see para. 164).
  2. The same individual has been listed in several online commercial databases as director of at least two other Beijing-based entities, including Guangcaiweixing Trading Co., Ltd.[4] (see annex 8-3). Guangcaiweixing was listed as the shipper of a suspect shipment interdicted en route to Eritrea aboard the Kota Karim and reported to the Committee in August 2012. The container cargo manifest listed mostly dual-use items (see annex 8-4), including “numerical control” machine tools and related equipment, which had been inspected and detained by a Member State. The 2016 interdiction is the second documented interception of military-related items exported from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to Eritrea and confirms ongoing arms-related cooperation between the two countries.[5]

 

        [1] Based on information from the Panel, Chinese authorities thoroughly searched cargo manifest, air transport and customs clearance data for June and July 2016 and could not find any corresponding cargo from the Chinese mainland. The consignee is yet to reply to the Panel.

        [2] The Glocom website was shut down shortly after the Panel sent letters to Glocom front companies in Malaysia.

        [3] In Chinese: 北京成兴贸易有限公司.

        [4] In Chinese: 光彩伟兴贸易(北京)有限公司.

        [5] See S/2016/157, paras. 94-95.

In an Appendix to the report the waybill is reproduced

Eritrea computers

 

Share this:


Be the first to comment

Please check your e-mail for a link to activate your account.

Take Action

Eritrean Satellite Television is an international non-profit organization. Please support us by:

Donate

Sign up

Volunteer

Spread the word

Top Leaders

Top 50 Most Earned Points (All time)

Yosief Meharena 1
+2196pt earned points
Zaid Bein 2
+1955pt earned points
efrem tesfay 3
+1907pt earned points
Andebrhan Ekube 4
+1802pt earned points
Hamer Diglel 5
+1575pt earned points
Efrem Tesfahiwet 6
+1175pt earned points
Yosief Meharena 7
+1069pt earned points
Solomon Ghebrewold 8
+770pt earned points
Khalieb Abraham 9
+645pt earned points
Yemane Ghebrekidan 10
+429pt earned points
stifanos michael 11
+372pt earned points
Amanuel Mebrahtu 12
+362pt earned points
Kidane Weldemichael 13
+265pt earned points
rezene yowhans 14
+262pt earned points
smuy 15
+255pt earned points
Teclemariam Ghebregergis 16
+240pt earned points
Abeba Abraha 17
+225pt earned points
Anonymous 18
+215pt earned points
Haile Tensae 19
+191pt earned points
Robi91 Smerr1 20
+185pt earned points
Tewelde Kidane 21
+180pt earned points
Asefaw Ghebrekidan 22
+170pt earned points
Negede Tesfamariam 23
+168pt earned points
amanuel mebrahtu 24
+151pt earned points
abdu Ahmed 25
+150pt earned points
yacob sibhat 26
+140pt earned points
tekle teklzghi 27
+135pt earned points
Mesfin Kidane 28
+130pt earned points
asgedet tesfa yohannes 29
+130pt earned points
selam fithat selam fithat 30
+130pt earned points
Abdu Ali 31
+120pt earned points
Biniam Biniam Garmskal 32
+118pt earned points
Khaled Abdu 33
+112pt earned points
Haile Woldemichael 34
+110pt earned points
Ardel_Gash Y. Negash 35
+107pt earned points
Eyassu Tesfamariam 36
+105pt earned points
yehdego beyene 37
+105pt earned points
Kassahun Berhane 38
+105pt earned points
Hagos Awshek 39
+101pt earned points
Teame Tekie 40
+100pt earned points
Habte Berhe 41
+95pt earned points
Kesete Teclemichael 42
+95pt earned points
Yohannes T. Berhe 43
+95pt earned points
dart prusik 44
+95pt earned points
Yohanns Ghebrezghi 45
+95pt earned points
Hidad Mahmoud 46
+90pt earned points
Habtom Kidane 47
+90pt earned points
Afeworki Ghebreiyesus 48
+90pt earned points
Lemlem Tesfagabir 49
+90pt earned points
Asmerom Asfaha 50
+90pt earned points

Upcoming Events