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Seoul sanctions Hong Kong shipping firm over North Korea breach

South Korea seized the De Yi in March at the request of the United States.

By Taejun Kang for RFA 2024.07.18 -- South Korea has sanctioned a Hong Kong shipping firm and a North Korean vessel over allegations of the illegal transfer of North Korean coal in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.

The 3,000-ton De Yi, owned by HK Yilin Shipping, took coal from a North Korean vessel, Tok Song, in March off the North's coast in a ship-to-ship transfer in violation of two Security Council resolutions imposed over Pyongyang's illegal weapons programs, the ministry said.

Maritime transshipment with North Korean vessels and the export of North Korean coal are prohibited under U.N. Security Council sanctions.

Financial transactions with sanctioned individuals and institutions require the approval of South Korea's Financial Services Commission or the Governor of the Bank of Korea, respectively, and unauthorized transactions may be punishable under applicable laws.

Sanctioned vessels may enter South Korea only with the permission of the relevant authorities.

The ministry said its sanctions demonstrated the government's "strong will to end North Korea's illegal nuclear and missile development by blocking its illegal maritime activities."

"Going forward, the government will continue to take strong and consistent law enforcement action against vessels and operators engaged in the transportation of contraband and violations of Security Council sanctions, and will work closely with our allies in this process," the ministry added.

RFA was not immediately able to contact HK Yilin Shipping for comment.

In March, the South Korean government detained the De Yi en route to Vladivostok, Russia, at the request of the United States, off the South Korean city of Yeosu, to investigate its alleged involvement in violating Security Council sanctions against North Korea.

At that time, South Korea also imposed sanctions on the Russian ships Angara and Lady R, which have been implicated in suspected arms transfers between North Korea and Russia, as well as Russian individuals and companies.

Edited by Mike Firn.

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