North Korea used Chinese-made trucks to show rockets at a massive military parade last week, as per the photos released by state media, highlighting the difficulty in implementing U.N. sanctions against the state.
At Saturday’s parade to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, North Korea displayed six Pukkuksong submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM), hauled behind trucks painted in North Korean navy camouflage.
In the photos, the logo design of Chinese company is apparent on the automobiles.
In 2016, it was reported that North Korea was utilizing Sinotruk HOWO trucks to show a recent mobile artillery system.
A Sinotruk sales official stated today he was not aware the company’s trucks had been used during the parade.
“From my understanding, we haven’t had any business with the North Korean market since 2016; North Korea has never ever been a significant focus of ours,” stated an official, who only provided his last name, Gu.
“It could have been from before then and they used it themselves.”
Since 2006, it has protested United Nations sanctions to deliver military hardware into North Korea however control of equipment and automobiles that have “dual-use” military and civilian applications has been far less rigid.
It is also much more difficult to track.
North Korean state media has launched pictures of Sinotruk chassis and cabins before, regarding construction or mining.
