Cambodia Seizes Ship carrying North Korean Coal in Violation of North Korean Sanctions

The Cambodian government has seized ships and coal suspected of being involved in North Korean coal exports, Voice of America, VOA reports.

VOA said the Cambodian government had confirmed that it had frozen 4,800 tons of coal from North Korea and the Sea Sinain of Palau shipments on May 26.

Trading of coal from North Korea is prohibited under U.N. Security Council resolutions, and mandatory searches of cargo bound for or from North Korea are also specified.

As a result of the navigation analysis, the Sea Sinain disappeared after departing from Taiwan's waters on April 26 and reappeared in waters near Seokdo Island in the West Sea of North Korea on May 7.

Turning off the automatic identification device for ships is a common method used by ships involved in illegal transactions, which is a violation of International Maritime Organization regulations.

After leaving North Korea's waters, the Sea Sinain reported the Thai port of Shiracha as its next destination, but it actually headed to Cambodia, where it is believed to have been seized by the Cambodian government in the process.