Japan says it has detected apparent Chinese ship breaking North Korea sanctions

A Japanese P-3 maritime patrol plane detected the vessels, which lay alongside each other connected by hoses, on May 19, with one of the ships flying what seemed like a Chinese flag.

Japan on Tuesday said it had detected what appeared to be a Chinese-flagged vessel, 350 km off Shanghai, conducting illegal transfers to a North Korean ship.

Reuters

“Following a comprehensive assessment, the government of Japan strongly suspects that they conducted ship-to-ship transfers banned by UNSCR,” Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release, referring to U.N. Security Council resolutions.

A Japanese P-3 maritime patrol plane detected the vessels, which lay alongside each other connected by hoses, on May 19, with one of the ships flying what seemed like a Chinese flag, it said.

China has repeatedly said it is fully enforcing UN sanctions against North Korea and it would punish any Chinese company breaking them.

Japan’s decision to voice its suspicion comes as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump prepared for what may be a breakthrough summit as early as next month.

Japan is urging the United States and other countries to stick to a strict imposition of UN sanctions on North Korea until it abandons the development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.