The United States continues to follow developments in Sri Lanka with concern. We urge all sides to refrain from intimidation and violence. We call on the President, in consultation with the Speaker, to immediately reconvene parliament and allow the democratically elected representatives of the Sri Lankan people to fulfill their responsibility to affirm who will lead their government.

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The United States, along with partners, welcomes the October 16 announcement by the 1718 Committee on UN designations of vessels SHANG YUAN BAO, NEW REGENT, and KUM UN SAN 3 for engaging in UN-prohibited ship-to-ship transfers of refined petroleum to North Korean ships. We call on the 1718 Committee to designate any vessels under consideration that have shown to be involved in ship-to-ship transfers. The UN is designating the ships for a port entry ban and deflagging. This action is necessary as North Korea’s illicit shipping activities continue, despite UN prohibitions on ship-to-ship transfers of any goods or items to or from North Korean vessels of any goods or items going to or coming from North Korea.

The United States notes that this action follows recent announcements from Canada, France, Japan, and the United Kingdom regarding monitoring and surveillance activities to detect UN-prohibited illicit North Korean maritime activities, with a particular focus on detecting and disrupting ship-to-ship transfers of refined petroleum to North Korean tankers in the East China Sea. The United States is also releasing imagery that demonstrates the results of this coordinated, multinational initiative, which includes these countries, along with Australia and New Zealand. In support of this initiative, the United States has deployed aircraft and surface vessels to detect and disrupt these activities.

North Korea continues regularly to employ deceptive tactics to evade UN sanctions. North Korea’s illicit imports of refined petroleum have substantially breached the UN sanctions cap on refined petroleum by making illicit transfers, and we urge that Member States immediately end all sales of refined petroleum to North Korea. We call on the 1718 Committee to formally recognize this breach.

UN Member States are required to prohibit persons or entities subject to their jurisdiction from engaging in ship-to-ship transfers. The United States will impose sanctions on any individual, entity, or vessel supporting North Korea’s illicit activities.

The United States remains committed to achieving the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea. The full enforcement of North Korean-related UN Security Council Resolutions is crucial to a successful outcome. The international community must continue to enforce and implement UN Security Council Resolutions until North Korea denuclearizes.

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The below is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert:‎

Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke by phone today with the Philippines’ Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Teodoro Locsin Jr., to congratulate him on his new position. The Secretary reaffirmed the longstanding U.S.-Philippines alliance and recognized the Philippines’ important role in the Indo-Pacific region. Secretary Pompeo and Secretary Locsin discussed ongoing efforts to address regional issues such as North Korea, the South China Sea, and counterterrorism.

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Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan will deliver remarks and officiate the swearing-in ceremony for Ambassador Daniel Smith as Director of the Foreign Service Institute at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 26, in the Grove Atrium at the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center in Arlington, Virginia.

The event is open to credentialed members of the press.

Media representatives may attend this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) a U.S. Government-issued photo media credential (e.g., Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), or (2) an official photo identification card issued by their news organization, or (3) a letter from their employer on official letterhead verifying their current employment as a journalist. Additionally, they must present an official government photo identification card (i.e., U.S. driver’s license or passport).

The George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center is located at 4000 Arlington Blvd in Arlington, Virginia. All media interested in attending this ceremony should arrive by 11:45 a.m. Parking is available in the P1 parking lot.

The preset time for video cameras is 12:00 p.m. The preset time for journalists and still photographers is 12:30 p.m.

For further information, please contact the Office of Press Relations at (202) 647-2492 or via e-mail at PAPressDuty@state.gov.

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Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun will travel to Seoul October 29-30. The Special Representative will meet with his Republic of Korea counterparts to discuss diplomatic efforts to achieve the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea as committed to by Chairman Kim in Singapore.

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