The US has imposed sanctions on two Russian shipping companies and six vessels for violating UN restrictions on trade with North Korea, the US Treasury announced today.

The Vladivostok-based firms were involved in the ship-to-ship transfer of refined petroleum products with North Korea-flagged vessels "in early 2018," the statement said.

The targeted companies are Primorye Maritime Logistics and Gudzon Shipping, the registered ship owners and managers of the Russia-flagged 7,758-dwt Patriot (built 1990).