South Korea has imposed independent sanctions on a Hong Kong shipping company and a North Korean cargo ship for engaging in illicit fuel trade and other activities in violation of U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, Seoul’s foreign ministry said Thursday.

The government sanctioned 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, the ministry said. The move will be effective from Friday.

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

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

North Korea is banned from exporting coal, iron ore, and other mineral resources under Resolution 2371, passed in August 2017. U.N. sanctions call for a c
ountry to capture and investigate a vessel suspected of engaging in prohibited activities with North Korea.

Resolution 2397 adopted in December 2017 bans U.N. member countries from supplying, selling and transferring new or used vessels to North Korea. Tok Song is a used vessel that was brought into North Korea in March.

Financial and foreign exchange transactions with the sanctioned entities and individuals will require prior approval.

The ministry said such a move shows the government’s strong commitment to deterring North Korea’s illegal maritime activities, thus discouraging its unlawful nuclear and missile development.

“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,” it said.

Source: Yonhap News Agency