50 N.K. ships adopt Tanzanian flag after recent sanctions: report

SEOUL, Oct. 8 (Yonhap) -- Around 50 ships owned by or related to North Korea have transferred nationality to Tanzania since the United Nations Security Council adopted its strongest-ever resolution on the country in March, in an apparent attempt to circumvent the sanctions, a U.S. report said Saturday.

The group of vessels includes one ship blacklisted by the U.N.'s sanctions committee and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Washington, D.C.-based NK News said, citing European shipping database Equasis and Port State Control.

"The change of nationality into Tanzania comes in violation of the UNSC resolution," the news report said, indicating Resolution 2270's ban on North Korean ships sailing under the flag of other countries.

Resolution 2270 calls on U.N. member countries to revoke the local registration of ships owned by North Korea or carrying North Korean citizens, while also ordering them not to allow new registration of ships that were de-registered in other countries, the report highlighted.

In response to the North's fourth nuclear test in January, the UNSC adopted Resolution 2270 in March to push the communist regime further into isolation from the international market.

Eight months later in September, the North conducted its fifth nuclear test, causing the U.N. council to seek another round of sanctions.

pbr@yna.co.kr
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