Can private companies import crude oil into North Korea (DPRK)?

UN Security Council Resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2270 (2016), 2321 (2016), 2371 (2017), 2375 (2017), 2397 (2017) impose comprehensive sanctions including petroleum-import quotas (refined-product cap 500,000 bbl/yr under 2397). All-Member-State obligation. HARD STOP.

Are refined products (diesel, fuel oil, gasoline) tradeable by private importers in North Korea (DPRK)?

UN SCR 2397 caps DPRK refined-product imports at 500,000 bbl/yr. In practice all OFAC, EU, UK, JP, KR financial systems block DPRK transactions. HARD STOP.

Does OilFlow screen counterparties against North Korea (DPRK) regulations?

Yes. The same rule table shown on this page ships in the Regulatory Matrix API; counterparty checks destined for North Korea (DPRK) are gated against these rules automatically.

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Regulatory

North Korea (DPRK) — oil import rules

These are the same rules the Regulatory Matrix API serves for North Korea (DPRK)-bound trade: which products private parties can move, which run through a government or monopoly route, and which are closed outright.

Open to private trade0

Restricted0

Blocked4

Compiled regulatory guidance from OilFlow Network, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the relevant national regulator before structuring a deal.

Product-by-product

Crude oilBLOCKED: Not tradeable by private partiesUN Security Council Resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2270 (2016), 2321 (2016), 2371 (2017), 2375 (2017), 2397 (2017) impose comprehensive sanctions including petroleum-import quotas (refined-product cap 500,000 bbl/yr under 2397). All-Member-State obligation. HARD STOP.
Refined products (diesel, fuel oil, gasoline, jet)BLOCKED: Not tradeable by private partiesUN SCR 2397 caps DPRK refined-product imports at 500,000 bbl/yr. In practice all OFAC, EU, UK, JP, KR financial systems block DPRK transactions. HARD STOP.
LPGBLOCKED: Not tradeable by private partiesComprehensive UN + national sanctions. HARD STOP.
gasBLOCKED: Not tradeable by private partiesSame framework. HARD STOP.

Frequently asked

Can private companies import crude oil into North Korea (DPRK)?: UN Security Council Resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2270 (2016), 2321 (2016), 2371 (2017), 2375 (2017), 2397 (2017) impose comprehensive sanctions including petroleum-import quotas (refined-product cap 500,000 bbl/yr under 2397). All-Member-State obligation. HARD STOP.
Are refined products (diesel, fuel oil, gasoline) tradeable by private importers in North Korea (DPRK)?: UN SCR 2397 caps DPRK refined-product imports at 500,000 bbl/yr. In practice all OFAC, EU, UK, JP, KR financial systems block DPRK transactions. HARD STOP.
Does OilFlow screen counterparties against North Korea (DPRK) regulations?: Yes. The same rule table shown on this page ships in the Regulatory Matrix API; counterparty checks destined for North Korea (DPRK) are gated against these rules automatically.

Use this jurisdiction

These rules ship in the Regulatory Matrix API, from $99/mo. Bank compliance teams hit /api/v1/regulatory/check to gate counterparty intake automatically; subscribers get webhooks on every rule change. Screening a specific counterparty into North Korea (DPRK)? Run a free check first.