S. Korea facing questions over ability to implement UN sanctions on N. Korea
- 6 years ago
South Korea is in a sticky situation,... after reports indicate that North Korea shipped its coal to the South last year in what would be a clear violation of international sanctions.
And one of those ships that carried the coal, is believed to have gone in and out of South Korean ports over 20 times.
Park Hee-jun has the details.
South Korea is being questioned over its ability to implement UN Security Council resolutions,... after inadvertently importing some 9-thousand tons of North Korean coal last year via Russia.
Broadcaster Voice Of America reported Tuesday that an expert panel under the UN sanctions committee found that North Korea shipped coal to the Russian port of Kholmsk on Sakhalin Island... six times between July and September 2017.
The coal eventually found its way to ports in South Korea -- with some of it unloaded at Incheon on October 2nd... and some at Pohang on October 11th,... through ships that were later found to be operated by Chinese companies.
And on Thursday,... VOA, citing real-time port entries from 'MarineTraffic',... reported that one of those ships had been passing in and out of South Korea *22 times since last November.
According to the data, 'Rich Glory,' the ship that transported coal to Pohang,... was found to have entered the port of Busan just two weeks ago on July 4th.
UN Resolution 2397, adopted in December last year,... allows a country to capture and look into a vessel suspected of engaging in illicit activities with North Korea.
But during all those stops,... the South Korean government didn't take any such measures, even after it was aware of the illegal acts in October.
Seoul's foreign ministry, however,... has been emphasizing that South Korea is working closely with the international community to implement sanctions on North Korea.
An official at the ministry told reporters that relevant authorities are investigating whether the coal is really from the North,... and whether South Korean private dealers were involved.
The government also revealed Wednesday that a Togo-flagged ship, believed to be involved in transporting North Korean coal,... is under investigation.
Park Hee-jun, Arirang News.
And one of those ships that carried the coal, is believed to have gone in and out of South Korean ports over 20 times.
Park Hee-jun has the details.
South Korea is being questioned over its ability to implement UN Security Council resolutions,... after inadvertently importing some 9-thousand tons of North Korean coal last year via Russia.
Broadcaster Voice Of America reported Tuesday that an expert panel under the UN sanctions committee found that North Korea shipped coal to the Russian port of Kholmsk on Sakhalin Island... six times between July and September 2017.
The coal eventually found its way to ports in South Korea -- with some of it unloaded at Incheon on October 2nd... and some at Pohang on October 11th,... through ships that were later found to be operated by Chinese companies.
And on Thursday,... VOA, citing real-time port entries from 'MarineTraffic',... reported that one of those ships had been passing in and out of South Korea *22 times since last November.
According to the data, 'Rich Glory,' the ship that transported coal to Pohang,... was found to have entered the port of Busan just two weeks ago on July 4th.
UN Resolution 2397, adopted in December last year,... allows a country to capture and look into a vessel suspected of engaging in illicit activities with North Korea.
But during all those stops,... the South Korean government didn't take any such measures, even after it was aware of the illegal acts in October.
Seoul's foreign ministry, however,... has been emphasizing that South Korea is working closely with the international community to implement sanctions on North Korea.
An official at the ministry told reporters that relevant authorities are investigating whether the coal is really from the North,... and whether South Korean private dealers were involved.
The government also revealed Wednesday that a Togo-flagged ship, believed to be involved in transporting North Korean coal,... is under investigation.
Park Hee-jun, Arirang News.