U.S. seizes North Korean coal ship, accuses Pyongyang of violating sanctions
Source: Washington Post
U.S. authorities have seized a North Korean ship used to sell coal in alleged violation of international sanctions, Justice Department officials said Thursday.
Justice Department officials confirmed the ship, the Wise Honest, is approaching U.S. territorial waters, with coordination of the U.S. Marshals and the Coast Guard.
Officials said it was the first time the U.S. has seized a North Korean cargo vessel for violating international sanctions.
This sanctions-busting ship is now out of service, Assistant Attorney General John Demers said in announcing the seizure.
...The move marks an escalation of U.S. government pressure on Pyongyang, even as President Trump has spoken glowingly about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-seizes-north-korean-coal-ship-accuses-pyongyang-of-violating-sanctions/2019/05/09/8fc50d86-726e-11e9-8be0-ca575670e91c_story.html?utm_term=.8a77d27f3e8c
brooklynite
(94,502 posts)ProudMNDemocrat
(16,783 posts)Any comment from Orange puke?
underpants
(182,772 posts)Literally go and get it
we can do it
(12,182 posts)Ramsey Barner
(349 posts)The ship "is approaching U.S. territorial waters."
Anybody know any maritime law?
Ramsey Barner
(349 posts)Long answer:
The Right of Visit, Search and Seizure of Foreign Flagged Vessels on the High Seas Pursuant to Customary International Law
http://tinyurl.com/y2omn3ep
Chakaconcarne
(2,444 posts)mahatmakanejeeves
(57,395 posts)David Fahrenthold Retweeted
North Korea conducts its illicit trading w/fleet o/ghost ships that paint false names on their hulls, steal identification numbers from other vessels & execute trades via ship-2-ship transfers at sea, 2 avoid prying eyes at ports. By @JeanneWhalen
Link to tweet
Kim Jong Un has a fleet of ghost ships sneaking around the high seas to beat sanctions
By Jeanne Whalen, Reporter covering business around the world
April 24 at 7:09 PM
In April 2018, a ship carrying $3 million worth of coal slipped into Indonesian waters with its identification transmitter switched off and its flag hidden from view. ... Acting on a tip, Indonesia's navy detained the vessel, which identified itself as the "Wise Honest" from Sierra Leone. When inspectors went aboard, they found two dozen crew members and registration documents indicating a different country of origin -- North Korea. ... The interdiction, detailed in a March 5 report by U.N. sanctions monitors, is part of a worrying rise in coal exports from the hermit kingdom -- exports that violate U.N. sanctions and help finance Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program, the monitors said.
....
North Korea conducts its illicit trading with a fleet of ghost ships that paint false names on their hulls, steal identification numbers from other vessels and execute their trades via ship-to-ship transfers at sea, to avoid prying eyes at ports. ... In the case of the Wise Honest, a globe-trotting North Korean salesman arranged the shipment by holding meetings at Pyongyang's embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia -- and then paid an Indonesian broker through bank transfers facilitated by JPMorgan Chase, according to bank documents and other evidence gathered by the monitors.
....
Some ships carry on trading even after the Security Council places sanctions on them. In March 2018, the United Nations placed sanctions on a vessel registered in Dominica called the Yuk Tung, along with the Singaporean company that managed it, after the vessel traded with a North Korean ship. That punishment banned the Yuk Tung from all ports worldwide and effectively prohibited other ships from trading with it.
To keep operating in the East China Sea, the Yuk Tung painted a new name and a stolen identification number on its stern and falsely transmitted the stolen number. Meanwhile, the rightful owner of that ID was anchored in the Gulf of Guinea, more than 7,000 miles away, according to the monitors.
....
Jeanne Whalen is a reporter covering business around the world. She previously reported for the Wall Street Journal from New York, London and Moscow. Follow https://twitter.com/JeanneWhalen
CentralMass
(15,265 posts)In this photo trump contemplates Kim Jong Un's command to grab his ankles.
Bonhomme Richard
(9,000 posts)minions are throwing challenges at potential enemies hoping that someone on the other side makes a mistake and he can get his wag the tail war going.
NK now and Iran and China a few days ago.
BeyondGeography
(39,369 posts)Javaman
(62,517 posts)the orange asshole trying the scatter gun approach. piss off everyone and see who shoots first.
Old Vet
(2,001 posts)appal_jack
(3,813 posts)Venezuela
North Korea
Iran
China
Who next?
k&r,
-app
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)That's how you enforce sanctions.
EX500rider
(10,839 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)EX500rider
(10,839 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)keithbvadu2
(36,775 posts)irisblue
(32,968 posts)soryang
(3,299 posts)"Separately Thursday, U.S. military officials conducted a scheduled launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile from an Air Force facility in California. It was the second test of the U.S. Minuteman III missile this month, and the third this year, though the Air Force maintains that such activity is scheduled years in advance, and not in response to any world events."
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,922 posts)James48
(4,435 posts)is an act of war under international law.
Was this seizure authorized by the UN Security Council ?
I thought Trumpers all refused to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the UN.
Are our sailors (Is it Coast Guard) now in danger of being in violation of international law? DId they do it at the orders of Trump? Does that make Trump officially a war criminal?
former9thward
(31,981 posts)The UN has sanctions against NK. The ship was in violation. UN member nations can enforce UN sanctions.
James48
(4,435 posts)Their heads will explode if you tell them that.
soryang
(3,299 posts)News Of Sanction Busting North Korean Cargo Ship Seized As Kim Fires More Missiles
The seizure of the ship is unprecedented and both events together underscore a major uptick in tensions between the United States and North Korea.
BY JOSEPH TREVITHICKMAY 9, 2019
Has anyone found the location of the seizure?
Judi Lynn
(160,516 posts)By FILI SAGAPOLUTELE
an hour ago
PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (AP) A North Korean cargo ship seized by the U.S. because of suspicion it was used to violate international sanctions arrived at the capital of this American territory, where it will undergo inspections.
The Wise Honest was slowly towed to the port of Pago Pago during a cloudy Saturday morning and docked at the main docking section of the port that afternoon.
The trip from Indonesia took about three weeks and American Samoa, in the South Pacific, was chosen because of its central strategic location, U.S. Coast Guard public affairs officer Amanda Wyrick said.
We also have a good strong relationship and partnership with the American Samoan government, Wyrick said. With that being said, we also already have the resources that are able to ensure the security of the vessel but most importantly the Port of Pago Pago.
More:
https://apnews.com/04b6e91f993f43afb48ac1634b593830