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The United States has seized a North Korean cargo ship for allegedly evading international sanctions, heightening tensions between the two countries. The ship was found to be carrying coal in violation of restrictions and smuggling. This seizure comes on the same day that North Korea launched suspected short-range missiles. The US Justice Department asked a federal judge to grant ownership of the vessel, claiming payments made through American banks. The seizure is part of the US campaign of "maximum pressure" against North Korea.
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The United States seized a North Korean cargo ship that was allegedly using to evade international sanctions. The seizure is likely to heighten tensions between the two countries. This seizure comes on the same day that North Korea was reported to have launched two projectiles suspected to be short-range missiles. The 17,000-ton cargo ship, called the Wise Honest, was stopped in Indonesia last year after it was found to be carrying coal (in other words violating the restrictions and smuggling). The ship's captain was then charged with violating Indonesian law, and last July, the U.S. filed an action to seize the ship. On Thursday, the Justice Department asked a federal judge to give the U.S. ownership of the vessel— the same thing prosecutors do when they seek to take ownership of planes or boats used by drug smugglers. The Justice Department says the U.S. is entitled to take this action because payments to maintain and equip the vessel were made through American banks. The US and the United Nations have said that North Korea has used illicit sales of its coal to fund the country's nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles program. Justice Department officials called the seizure the first of its kind, and said it was part of the US campaign of "maximum pressure" against the North Korean government. Although it was announced yesterday, government authorities said the ship was "recently taken into custody" but declined to provide an exact date for the transfer of custody.
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