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

Canonical ID: kprusi-ddb264299e6546b1dcc758d458f2a6c8ff3f3fd7 · Entity type: Organization (reference)

This table shows statement-based, sourced records from our database. For more context, learn about how OpenSanctions stores information.

Property		Value	Lang	Source dataset		Source ID	First seen
`Organization:description`		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.		kp_rusi_reports		`kprusi-ddb264299e6546b1dcc758d458f2a6c8ff3f3fd7`	2023-08-08