Foreign Ministry: Diesel Is Not Subject to Russia Sanctions; Whether It Was Transported Remains Unconfirmed

[Financial News] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on the 8th that it was checking whether domestically produced diesel had been transported to Russia. The ministry explained, however, that diesel is not an item subject to sanctions against Russia. This is not much different from the position the Blue House stated the previous day.
The British newspaper The Guardian sparked controversy with a report that diesel refined in South Korea had been transported to Russia, which is under sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine. Citing the report, Ukraine accused South Korea of evading sanctions against Russia.
A Foreign Ministry official said, “We will verify the facts and matters related to export controls through relevant agencies and take the necessary measures if a problem is confirmed.” The official added, “It is inappropriate to use The Guardian’s report to make public statements suggesting that actions contrary to the sanctions policy against Russia have been taken, based on individual transactions whose key facts—including the parties involved, the country of origin and the final buyer—have not been confirmed.”
The main sanctions on petroleum products agreed upon by the United States and Western countries prohibit the import of Russian petroleum products into Western countries. Conversely, exports of commercial diesel from Western countries to Russia are reportedly not subject to sanctions.
The Foreign Ministry said it would take measures if necessary in response to reports that vessels subject to sanctions against Russia had been used to transport diesel.
A Foreign Ministry official explained, “I understand that the relevant agencies will verify the facts and related matters and that necessary measures will be taken if a problem is confirmed.”

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