South Korean authorities have seized a second ship suspected of supplying oil to North Korea in violation of international sanctions, BBC reports. The Panama-flagged tanker, which is named Koti, is being held at a port near the western city of Pyeongtaek. The latest vessel seized, which has a mostly Chinese and Burmese crew, is a 5,100-tonne oil carrier.
According to the report, South Korea has already impounded a Hong Kong-registered ship it suspects of secretly transferring 600 tonnes of refined oil to a North Korean vessel. Recall that the UN imposed sanctions on the North in response to its weapons programme.
Last week, South Korea revealed that it was holding the Hong Kong-registered Lighthouse Winmore. The ship according to officials entered Yeosu port in South Korea on 11 October to load up with refined oil and left for Taiwan four days later.
But instead of going to Taiwan it transferred the oil to a North Korean ship and three other vessels in international waters on 19 October. The Lighthouse Winmore was seized when it returned to Yeosu in November and remains in South Korea.
