Philippines impounds DPRK ship under UN sanctions

The Philippines had impounded the 6,830-tonne cargo ship, the Jin Teng in line with the UN's sanctions against Pyongyang over its nuclear programme. The ship is being held at Subic Port northeast of Manila.

Coast guard spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said the ship's crew members remain on board and there is no need to provide them with any supplies yet.

According to Balilo, the coastguard has inspected the ship twice, once using electronic sensors to search for weapons. However, no contraband has been found.

A team from the UN is expected to inspect the ship in Subic.

Earlier, a Philippine government official said the crew will be deported.

The Jin Teng arrived in the Philippines from Palembang, Indonesia on March 3, just hours after the UN Security Council unanimously passed Resolution No. 2207, tightening its sanctions against Pyongyang following its fourth nuclear test on January 6 and a long-range rocket launch on February 7.

Under the resolution, all countries will monitor every freighter to and from the DPRK.

The Republic of Korea (RoK) will also announce its own sanctions against the DPRK this week, a RoK official said.

The Yonhap news agency cited the official as saying that the sanctions will likely include banning the entry of ships from third-party countries that have been to the DPRK to RoK ports, and blacklisting more DPRK organisations and individuals.