Nex Systems
Organization

Department 53 of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces

Sanctioned entity

Russia. Named in 4 sanctions listings.

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Summary

A UN Member State reported that Department 53 (also known as Bureau 53), a UN-designated entity of the People’s Armed Forces of the DPRK based in Pyongyang, is involved in weapons trading. During 2019-2021, the department's Russian office has purportedly sourced bearings, communications, and electronics components for the DPRK from Russia. From late 2021, it has also participated in several construction projects in Congo, likely employing DPRK laborers. These projects include multiple hospitals and housing complexes. The reporting member state indicates that Department 53 operates through subsidiary and front companies, with representatives in several countries.

(also DEPARTMENT 53 OF THE MINISTRY OF THE PEOPLE'S ARMED FORCES)

(also KOREA PONGNAESAN TRADING CORPORATION)

Sanctions and listings4

  • Official designation

    Ministry of Economy, Trade and IndustryJapan METI End User ListJapan

    Weapon Types: Conventional Weapons

    meti.go.jpmeti.go.jp

  • Listed
    28 Jan 2025
    Effective
    16 Jan 2025

    Reciprocal

    OFACUS SAM Procurement ExclusionsUnited StatesActive

    Prohibition/Restriction

    Redacted for Security Reasons

    sam.gov

  • Listed
    28 Jan 2025
    Effective
    16 Jan 2025

    Reciprocal

    OFACUS SAM Procurement ExclusionsUnited StatesActive

    Prohibition/Restriction

    Redacted for Security Reasons

    sam.gov

  • Listed
    16 Jan 2025

    North Korea Sanctions - DPRK2

    Office of Foreign Assets ControlUS OFAC Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) ListUnited States

    Block and DPRK2

    Secondary sanctions risk: North Korea Sanctions Regulations, sections 510.201 and 510.210

    Transactions Prohibited For Persons Owned or Controlled By U.S. Financial Institutions: North Korea Sanctions Regulations section 510.214

    Executive Order 13687 (North Korea)

    Programme US-NKReference 52262treasury.govofac.treasury.gov

Connections2

Other links2

All 2 markedSanctionedDebarredExport controlled

Other names7

Also known as5

Korea Pongnaesan Trading Corporation53 Bureau조선봉래산무역회사53 DepartmentKOREA PONGNAESAN TRADING CORPORATION

Weak aliases2

Spellings the source flags as too generic to establish a match on their own.

Bureau 53Department 53

Addresses4

  • Pyongyang, North Korea

  • Pyongyang Korea, North

  • Pyongyang

  • Russia

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