Lee Min-hyung joined The Korea Times in 2014 and has worked as a journalist mainly in Korea’s finance, tech and automotive industry. He specializes in content creation, breaking news and in-depth analysis currently on transportation and mobility. You can reach him via mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr.
South Korean vessel investigated for transferring oil to North
Seen above is a South Korean vessel suspected of illegally transferring oil to a North Korean ship in 2017. Yonhap
By Lee Min-hyung
By Lee Min-hyung
The prosecution is investigating a South Korean vessel that was allegedly used to violate United Nations sanctions imposed on North Korea.
The ship is being detained in Busan as its crew is suspected of transferring oil to a North Korean tanker in 2017, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wednesday.
The ministry said it impounded the vessel last October to look for evidence to prove that it was involved in the illegal activity.
The 7,850-ton tanker was built in 2000 and it is suspected of having been involved in the illegal transfer in the latter half of 2017.
If investigators confirm the allegations, chances are the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) may list the vessel for breaching the international sanctions imposed on the North.
The foreign ministry said it is continuing to inform the council and the United States on the progress of the investigation into the crew of the vessel.
“Relevant authorities are carrying out investigations into the crew of the South Korean-flagged ship, and the government is discussing with the U.S. and the U.N. sanctions whether the ship violated the U.N. resolutions against the North,” a ministry official said.
The UNSC pays keen attention to the ship-to-ship transfer of oil to the North, as it views cutting the oil supply to the regime as the most effective measure to isolate it.
As the North is unable to import such products as petroleum and coal from neighboring countries, such as China and South Korea, the regime is seeking to receive them via secretive routes.
Pyongyang also recently showed signs of resuming its nuclear program, prompting the U.S. and UNSC to threaten even tougher sanctions.
Last month, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on two Chinese companies for engaging in ship-to-ship transfers of oil and coal, criticizing them for helping the North avoid the international measures.
The U.S. Department of State is also urging the South Korea to not engage in activities that go against the sanctions.
Last week, the department warned a South Korean company, which illegally imported North Korean coal, saying that Washington would take “unilateral action” against any organizations facilitating the evasion of sanctions.
“The U.S. will not hesitate to take unilateral action against entities that conduct prohibited activities or facilitate evasion of sanctions,” the Voice of America (VOA) quoted a department official as saying last week.
Politicians here also urged the government to take measures to ensure there will be no recurrence of the recent incident.
“The government should keep in mind that strict sanctions are the shortcut to realize the North's denuclearization,” Rep. Yoo Ki-june of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party said in a press conference at the National Assembly, Wednesday.
He said the government should be aware that countless unreported illegal oil transfers may be taking place currently.
“South Korea, as a relevant party in handling the regime's denuclearization, should strictly monitor any acts that breach the sanctions on the regime,” he said.