South Korean officials said they have seized another ship suspected of delivering oil products to North Korea in violation of United Nations’ sanctions against the rogue regime for its nuclear weapons program, according to a report.
The Panama-flagged 5,100-ton vessel named the KOTI has been held in the western port of Pyeongtaek-Dangin since being seized on Dec. 21, the Yonhap News Agency reported.
Its crew was from China and Myanmar.
On Friday, Seoul announced that it had seized the Hong Kong-flagged Lighthouse Winmore in late November and believed it had transferred 600 tons of refined petroleum to a North Korean ship named the Samjong No. 2.
President Trump lashed out at China, which he has been pressuring to exert influence over major trading partner North Korea to curb its weapons development programs, on Twitter.
“Caught RED HANDED – very disappointed that China is allowing oil to go into North Korea. There will never be a friendly solution to the North Korea problem if this continues to happen!,” he wrote.
China said it is carrying out sanctions against North Korea.
“At the same time, any measures taken by the Security Council must have a basis in conclusive and actual proof. China will continue to participate in the work of the relevant Security Council sanctions committee on this principle,” its foreign ministry said in a statement.
Last month, the UN Security Council voted unanimously to punish President Kim Jong Un’s regime for a missile test by limiting access to refined oil and requir ing all North Koreans working overseas to return home in 24 months.
Pyongyang on Nov. 29 successfully launched an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead that could strike the US mainland.
With Post wires