South Korea has intercepted a ship carrying Russian freight via North Korea to China, according to the South Korean government.
The 2,900-ton freighter was seized by the Seoul authorities on Thursday, somewhere in the Korea Strait between South Korea and Japan. The voyage may represent an attempt by the heavily sanctioned state to bypass limitations on its trade with other nations, which one expert told Newsweek will only continue following a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un earlier this week.
According to Yonhap, a Seoul-based news agency, the ship was seized on suspicion of violating U.N. Security Council sanctions against North Korea, and is currently anchored at the port of Busan in the south of the country with the ten-person crew still onboard.
The ship was allegedly carrying iron ore and coal to China from Russia when it was seized, though the exact nationality of the boat remains unclear.
“In relation to the vessel’s suspected violation of UNSC sanctions, relevant government agencies are taking necessary steps in line with the international and domestic laws,” the South Korean Foreign Ministry told Yonhap, which was unable to confirm which sanctions the voyage allegedly contravened.