North Korean Black Market for Oil and Other Supplies

A couple of recent news stories have said that Russia, or a Russian-owned group, may have supplied oil to North Korea and that a Panamanian-flagged ship of unknown ownership had been taken to prevent delivery. It is my belief that the potential for conflict between United States and its allies with North Korea should be reason for any nation having an understanding or treaty with North Korea should declare their involvement, so that misunderstandings can be avoided. This could be a relationship of various kinds: economic or military aid or even of a mutual defense pact. The latter would be most serious because a conflagration would automatically mean another nation becomes involved immediately. The "Western" nations which form NATO have declared their relationship publicly as did the Warsaw Pact nations of some years ago. With nuclear weapons 'on the table' it is much more critical that such treaties or relationships should be known. Simply knowing where a nation's loyalties lie is critical if we are to maintain peace.

Report: Russian Tankers Fueled North Korea | HuffPost

Second Ship Suspected Of Providing Oil To North Korea Seized | HuffPost