The United Nations’ Security Council has added 27 ships to its blacklist as part of its clamp down on North Korea over its nuclear program.
The latest wave of sanctions also includes one individual and 22 companies, which have been involved in trading of coal, refined petroleum and oil with North Korean counterparts, which had been declared illegal.
The companies are predominantly registered owners or managers of ships which were found to have conducted ship-to-ship transfers of the said goods with North Korean counterparts dating back to June 2017 to early this year, thus evading imposed sanctions against Pjongjang.
The thirteen vessels that have been designated for an asset freeze and banned from entering ports of UN member states are Chon Myong 1, An San 1, Yu Phyong 5, Sam Jong 1, Sam Jong 2, Sam Ma 2, Yu Jong 2, Paek Ma, Ji Song 6, Chon Ma San, Nam San 8, Yu Son and Woory Star.
Two ships, Ji Song 8 and Hap Jang Gang 6, are subject to asset freeze.
The remaining 12 vessels have been designated for de-flagging by their flag state and denied port entry. They include Asia Bridge 1, Xin Guang Hai, Hua Fu, Yuk Tung , Koti, Dong Feng 6, Hao Fan 2, Hao Fan 6, Jin Hye, Fan Ke, Wan Heng 11 and Min Ning De You 078.
The global body also sanctioned Tsang Yung Yuan for coordinating North Korean coal exports with a North Korean broker operating in a third country.
Among the companies blacklisted by the Security Council are Chang An Shipping and Technology, First Oil JV Co Ltd, Huaxin Shipping Hongkong, Kingly Won International and Korea Ansan Shipping Company.
