Japan says Chinese ship was transferring cargo to North Korea, defying sanctions

By Tim Kelly Reuters

May 29, 2019

North Korean-flagged tanker JI SONG 6 is pictured in the East China Sea in this photo taken on May 19, 2018 and released on May 29, 2018 by Japan's Ministry of Defense.

Defense Ministry of Japan/Handout via REUTERS

“Following a comprehensive assessment, the government of Japan strongly suspects that they conducted ship-to-ship transfers banned by UNSCR,” Japan‘s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release, referring to U.N. Security Council resolutions.

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A Japanese P-3 maritime patrol plane detected the vessels, which lay alongside each other connected by hoses, on May 19, with one of the ships flying what seemed like a Chinese flag, it said.

China has repeatedly said it is fully enforcing U.N. sanctions against North Korea and it would punish any Chinese company breaking them.

Japan‘s decision to voice its suspicion comes as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump prepared for what may be a breakthrough summit as early as next month.

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Japan is urging the United States and other countries to stick to a strict imposition of U.N. sanctions on North Korea until it abandons the development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

In April, the U.N. Security Council blacklisted dozens of ships and shipping companies over oil and coal smuggling by North Korea, including five based in China. The vessels are subject to a global port ban and must be deregistered.