Ministry: Senat Failed to Respond to UN on North Korea Links

Senat Shipping Company (Senat) has not responded to either the Singapore authorities or the UN regarding alleged links with the North Korean shipping company Ocean Maritime Management Company (OMMC), Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said responding to media queries about Senat’s blacklisting by the US.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury informed last week that it had blacklisted Singapore-based Senat and is president Leonard Lai, for their involvement in arms import activities of OMMC.

The Treasury said it has designated Senat for providing extensive material support to OMMC, including arranging the purchase, repair, certification, and crewing of OMMC vessels.

Under the designation, any property or interests in property of the designated persons that are or come within U.S. jurisdiction must be frozen, the Treasury said.

According to the Singapore’s Ministry, the Panel of Experts established by United Nations Security Council wrote to Senat Shipping and Trading Private Limited in September last year seeking information about its alleged links with the United Nations-sanctioned entity OMMC.

This was followed by an advisory note issued by Singapore authorities to Senat “reminding the company of its obligations under Singapore law to report any information on dealings with companies or nationals under United Nations sanctions,” the Ministry added.

“Singapore takes a serious view of our obligations to prevent the illicit trafficking of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their means of delivery and related materials. While we do not implement unilateral sanctions imposed by other countries, we are bound by United Nations Security Council resolutions, including those on the DPRK.”

The Ministry said it was working with relevant authorities to investigate if UN resolutions or Singapore laws have been breached in light of this new development.

“We will not hesitate to take action if it is warranted,”  the ministry added.