United Nations, Dec 29 (AFP) The UN Security Counciltoday denied international port access to four North Koreanships suspected of carrying or having transported goods bannedby international sanctions targeting Pyongyang, diplomats toldAFP.
The ban of the four vessels -- the Ul Ji Bong 6, Rung Ra2, Sam Jong 2 and Rye Song Gang 1 -- was requested by theUnited States along with measures targeting ships registeredin other countries, they said on condition of anonymity.
But China only agreed to target the four North Koreanships, diplomats said, as part of international efforts tocurb Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programs.
"Only four ships have been accepted" for the ban but "theprocedure remains open" to include other vessels in thefuture, one diplomat said.
The list submitted by the US in December had alsoincluded ships flying flags from Belize, China, Hong Kong,Palau and Panama.
In 2017, the Security Council has slapped three sets ofsanctions on North Korea: one on August 5 targeting the iron,coal and fishing industries; another set on September 11 aimedat textiles and limiting oil supply; and the most recent onDecember 22 focused on refined petroleum products.
The US has denounced trafficking of banned goods thatallows North Korea to stock up, particularly the transfer ofcargo between different ships on the high seas.
Blocking suspected vessels from ports -- except in thecase of humanitarian need as determined by the council'ssanctions committee -- is provided for in the Augustresolution.
On October 5, the UN had already identified four ships"carrying prohibited goods," resulting in a ban on port accessthat was a "first in United Nations" history, according toHugh Griffiths, part of a UN panel of experts monitoring theapplication of sanctions on Pyongyang.
Those four vessels were registered in the Comoros, SaintKitts and Nevis, Cambodia and North Korea, and were targetedfor the illegal transport of coal, iron and North Korean fish.
(AFP)CK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.