South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reports that the South Korean Government has imposed sanctions on a foreign-flagged cargo ship, its operator, and three other entities in relation to the vessel's illegal transport of iron ore out of North Korea in June last year.
According to the South Korean Foreign Ministry, the Marshall Islands-registered bulk carrier Sunrise I was detained after it sailed through South Korea's territorial waters while it was transporting North Korean iron ore.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2371 bans the sale, supply, or transfer of North Korean coal, iron and iron ore as these could be used by Pyongyang for its nuclear weapons and missile development programs.
Xiangrui Shipping, the Hong Kong-registered operator of Sunrise I, the two Chinese operators of Xiangrui Shipping, and a Russia-registered consignor have also been targeted by the latest round of sanctions from Seoul.
A joint investigation by the Korea Coast Guard and other partner agencies revealed that just prior to its detention in South Korea, Sunrise I entered the North Korean port of Chongjin and loaded over 5,000 tonnes of iron ore sometime between June 14 and 17, 2024.
The ship was later brought to the Port of Busan for further investigation. It has since remained in South Korean waters and is due to be expelled by the government within the coming weeks.