S. Korea holds 2nd ship; oil ties to North suspected
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea is holding another vessel over suspicions that it transferred petroleum products to a North Korean vessel — the second seizure to come to light since President Donald Trump warned China against illicit oil sales to North Korea.
Authorities are investigating a Panamanian vessel suspected of transferring oil products to a North Korean ship, South Korea’s Yonhap News reported Sunday, citing a regional fisheries office. Intelligence and customs officials met Dec. 21 regarding the 5,100-ton oil carrier named KOTI and decided not to allow it to leave port.
An official from South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said the KOTI and its crew members were being held at Pyeongtaek-Dangjin port on the country’s west coast amid an inspection over supposed “North Korea-related” activity. The official didn’t elaborate on the specifics of the activities or when and where they allegedly took place. She spoke on condition of anonymity, citing office rules.
Trump has warned that illicit oil sales to North Korea may jeopardize a peaceful resolution to the confrontation over Kim Jong Un’s nuclear weapons and missile programs, though China has denied reports of petroleum sales to North Korea. South Korea seized a Hong Kong-flagged vessel named the Lighthouse Winmore, Yonhap reported Friday.
Ship-to-ship trade with North Korea at sea is prohibited under United Nations sanctions adopted Sept. 11.
China will fulfill its international duties and uphold the U.N.’s authority, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in brief New Year’s comments on state television Sunday evening. He added that his country will always be a builder of world peace.
Kim said that the United States should be aware that his country’s nuclear forces are now a reality, not a threat.
Kim said in his customary annual address today his country had achieved the historic feat of “completing” its nuclear forces and added he has a nuclear button on his desk.
“The U.S. should know that the button for nuclear weapons is on my table,” he said during the speech, as provisionally translated by the AP. The official transcript of his address was expected to be released later. “The entire area of the U.S. mainland is within our nuclear strike range. … The United States can never start a war against me and our country.”