Seoul sanctions Hong Kong firm, N. Korean ship over UN resolution violation

By Anadolu staff

South Korea on Thursday imposed independent sanctions against a Hong Kong shipping company and a North Korean cargo ship over alleged violations of UN Security Council resolutions, local media said.

Seoul's Foreign Ministry stated that they imposed sanctions on Hong Kong-based HK Yilin Shipping Co., the owner of the stateless vessel DE YI, and Tok Song, a North Korean cargo ship engaged in ship-to-ship coal transfer, Yonhap News Agency reported.

South Korean authorities seized the DE YI in waters off Yeosu in March this year while it was heading to Vladivostok, Russia.

The ministry claimed that the 3,000-ton cargo ship was carrying North Korean coal after a transshipment from the North Korean vessel Tok Song in waters off the North's western port city of Nampo.

The Security Council had banned North Korea from exporting coal, iron ore, and other mineral resources.

"The government will continue to take strong and consistent legal measures against ships and shipping companies involved in the transportation of prohibited items and violation activities as per the U.N. Security Council sanctions," said South Korean Foreign Ministry.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid