2024-07-19 07:10:03
On March 30, the ‘Daeho’ was captured off the coast of Yeosu while carrying 4,500 tons.
Departing from the Chinese port of Sudao, transferring to the Deoksongho at the sea of Nampo, North Korea
Circumstances of electronic products being transferred to a North Korean ship… Crew members leaving the country
The results of a joint government investigation have revealed that the DE YI, which was seized off the coast of Yeosu, South Jeolla Province in March, attempted to transfer 4,500 tons of North Korean coal from the TOK SONG, a North Korean-flagged ship, to transport it to Russia.
The government imposed independent sanctions on the Hong Kong shipping company that owned the Daiho, HK Yilin Shipping Co Ltd, and the Deokseongho. However, most of the ship’s captain and crew members left the country without being punished.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Intelligence Service on the 18th, the 3,000-ton cargo ship Daewoo was captured in the waters near Yeosu, South Jeolla Province on March 30th.
The government received intelligence from the United States that the ship was involved in violation of UN Security Council resolutions on North Korea sanctions, and seized it, moved it to Busan’s southern port anchorage, and conducted an investigation. The National Intelligence Service collected satellite evidence of the illegal transshipment, and supported the Coast Guard and prosecution by identifying the ship owner’s history of violating North Korea sanctions and the true nature and illegality of North Korean-linked organizations.
At the time of its capture, the Daiho had 13 people on board, including a Chinese captain and Chinese and Indonesian crew members. It has refused to open its cargo hold and has not cooperated with the investigation, claiming that it was carrying anthracite coal from China, not North Korea, and heading to Russia.
The investigation found that on March 18, the Daeho departed from Shidao Port in Shandong Province, China, turned off its automatic identification system (AIS), and received 4,500 tons of anthracite coal from the Tokseongho near Nampo, North Korea.
UN Security Council Resolution 2375 (2017) Paragraph 11 prohibits maritime transfers with North Korean vessels, and Resolution 2371 (2017) Paragraph 8 prohibits the export of North Korean coal. In addition, UN Security Council Resolution 2397 (2017) Paragraph 14 prohibits the supply of used vessels to North Korea.
The Daiho was formerly a Togolese vessel and was known to be stateless at the time of its seizure, but after investigation, it was confirmed to be owned by the Hong Kong shipping company ‘HK Yilin Shipping Co Ltd’. The Tokseongho is a used ship that was imported into North Korea at the end of March last year.
The government has moved the Daeho to Mukho Port in Gangwon Province for further investigation. The previous anchorage, Busan, has a large volume of maritime trade and is vulnerable to strong waves during the monsoon season, making it difficult to anchor for a long period of time.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official explained, “We boarded the Daiho multiple times and concluded that it was carrying coal from North Korea without any other possibility. We have obtained that much information with certainty,” and “The investigation will continue, and the Daiho will take action in accordance with relevant laws and precedents.” However, it was reported that no conclusion was reached as to whether the Daiho was heading to Vladivostok, Russia.
The Daeho was also carrying machinery including electronic products before the transfer of coal from North Korea. It is known that these items were transferred to another vessel presumed to be North Korea, not the Deoksongho, in waters near North Korea. Machinery including electronic products is included in the list of items prohibited from transfer to North Korea.
Based on the results of this investigation, the government designated HK Irin, the owner of the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., and Deokseongho as targets of independent sanctions against North Korea.
However, most of the captain and crew members on board the ship left the country without any punishment. It is known that the investigation into their violation of North Korea sanctions has been completed.
The government is reportedly continuing its investigation into the Daewoo and some of its crew members.
However, there is likely to be controversy over whether it is appropriate to allow sailors who were involved in violating UN Security Council resolutions on sanctions against North Korea to leave the country.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official commented, “The independent sanctions announced today demonstrate our government’s strong will to prevent North Korea’s illegal nuclear and missile development by blocking its illegal maritime activities.”
He added, “The government will continue to take strong and consistent law enforcement measures against ships and shipping companies involved in the transport of contraband and activities in violation of UN Security Council resolutions on sanctions against North Korea, and will closely cooperate with allies in this process.”
An official from the National Intelligence Service said, “The Daeho is the first case that the government has detained at sea for violating sanctions against North Korea, and this action is a strong warning to illegal networks linked to North Korea.” He added, “In addition to the Daeho, we are also pursuing actions against ships that violate UN sanctions against North Korea, both domestically and overseas, including in Southeast Asia.”
Meanwhile, the target of this sanction is subject to the ‘Foreign Exchange Transactions Act’ and the ‘Act on the Prohibition of Financing for the Purpose of Threatening the Public, etc. and for the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction’, so in order for our citizens to engage in foreign exchange or financial transactions with the target of the sanctions, they need prior permission from the Governor of the Bank of Korea or the Financial Services Commission. If they engage in transactions without permission, they may be punished according to the relevant laws.
In the case of ships, domestic port entry permits must be obtained in accordance with the ‘Ship Entry and Exit Act’ in order to enter the port.
[서울=뉴시스]
2024-07-19 07:10:03