South Korea has seized a second ship as part of what it describes as an ongoing effort to monitor North Korea’s attempts to evade UN sanctions.
The South Korean Foreign Ministry told CNN Sunday that authorities have launched an investigation into a ship it has seized, but it would not give further details “due to the sensitivity of the issue,” about whether that vessel was suspected of transferring oil to North Korea in violation of international sanctions on the hermit kingdom.
“We are closely monitoring North Korea’s attempts to evade UN sanctions. We are also working closely with relevant countries and ministries for a thorough implementation of the UN resolutions. As for the KOTI, an investigation is underway,” a foreign ministry spokeswoman told CNN by telephone.
Just last week South Korea announced it had seized the Lighthouse Winmore, a Hong Kong-registered ship in late November, that it claims had transferred oil to a North Korean vessel in international waters in violation of United Nations sanctions.
Related: Trump accuses China of allowing oil into North Korea
The South Korean Foreign Ministry said the vessel departed the port of Yeosu in South Korea on October 19 carrying refined oil that was then transferred to a North Korean ship in international waters.
