In April 2023, a North Korea-linked oil tanker sailing under another country's flag stopped transmitting its location via the Automatic Identification System, the tracking equipment required on all large commercial vessels. The ship disappeared from maritime monitoring systems in the East China Sea.
The incident is part of a wider operation known as the "shadow fleet," a network of vessels used by rogue states to circumvent international sanctions. These ships often operate under false flags and disable or manipulate tracking systems to hide their movements and cargo routes.
The practice allows sanctioned nations to continue receiving critical supplies, including oil, while avoiding detection by authorities monitoring shipping lanes and enforcing trade restrictions.
