The government has detained a ship that reportedly violated United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea.
According to diplomatic authorities on July 22, the vessel named Prada entered Pyeongtaek Port in March.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official stated, "Based on information that the Prada was involved in activities violating past Security Council sanctions against North Korea, a joint investigation by relevant agencies is underway regarding the ship that entered Pyeongtaek Port."
The official added, "As a result of the government investigation, it has been confirmed that the Prada participated in violations of Security Council resolutions, and as a follow-up measure, the ship is currently being detained."
According to Voice of America (VOA), the vessel, also known as Sophia, was mentioned in a joint statement issued in May by South Korea, the United States, Japan, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, urging compliance with North Korea sanctions.
Satellite images captured evidence of the ship loading coal at North Korea's Nampo Port in September and December 2024, VOA reported.
The 10,730-ton cargo ship Prada has reportedly changed its name multiple times to evade sanctions. It was identified as Huataishan from 2008 to 2020, operating under a Chinese flag. In 2024, it operated as Sophia before reverting to Prada a year later.
This is not the first time the government has detained a ship for violating North Korea sanctions. In April 2019, the government detained a South Korean-flagged 7,800-ton tanker that was caught transferring oil products to a North Korean vessel in international waters.
In July 2024, authorities detained a stateless vessel owned by a Hong Kong shipping company for allegedly illegally transporting North Korean coal near Yeosu, South Jeolla Province.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.