International Development Grant
Disrupting North Korean Illicit Shipping Activities through Project Sandstone – phase I
Project Number: CA-3-P006494001
Status: Closed
Country/Region: Unknown
Regional Focus:
Maximum Contribution: $2,088,547.00
Start Date: October 17, 2018
End Date: March 31, 2021
Duration: 2.5 years
Project Description
This project funds the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) to generate actionable open source products for public consumption and private stakeholders highlighting North Korea’s proliferation networks and illicit maritime activities.
Expected Results
The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) increased quantity and quality of information related to illicit North Korea maritime sanction evasion activities; (2) developed 24-hour rapid response capability ; and (3) provided reports to Canada on North Korean maritime sanctions evasion activities.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of the end of the project (December 2020) include: (1) produced eight public reports 16 private reports and five tactical intelligence reports that investigated over 70 suspicious vessels. These reports formed the basis for over 20 news articles in major international news outlets such as the New York Times Wall Street Journal The Times of London Voice of America Korea and The Diplomat; (2) contributed intelligence or published information which supported 11 designations of vessels companies and individuals by the US Treasury Department’s Office for Foreign Asset Control; (3) participated in over 29 briefings presentations and training sessions with international stakeholders to disseminate information about North Korean maritime sanctions evasion activities; and (4) developed new algorithms to quickly collect process and analyze many different kinds of remote sensing data.
Key Information
Executing Agency:
The Royal United Services Institute
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
YFMInternaAssistPartnershp&Programing Br
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Project-type interventions
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Foreign Affairs and Trade Gs&Cs