US SEIZES NORTH KOREAN SHIP FOR INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS VIOLATIONS

Law enforcement agencies of the United States have seized a cargo ship owned by the Government of North Korea for violations of international sanctions. The ship, the M/V Wise Honest, has been delivering heavy machinery from China to North Korea, and delivering coal to Russia. An arrest warrant, for seizure of the vessel was reportedly issued in US District Court in New York in 2018; The ship is of North Korean registry.

There are allegations that expenses for maintenance of the vessel, equipment and other improvements were paid in dollars, through banks located in the United States. It appears to be the first American seizure of a North Korean ship found to be violating United Nations Security Council sanctions and US law. Reports indicate that the ship is in the Pacific en route to American territory.