(LEAD) Gov't denies report of ship carrying N. Korean coal

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with ministry's statement; CHANGES headline)

SEOUL, Aug. 7 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government on Tuesday dismissed a report that another foreign vessel carrying North Korean coal has entered a southeastern port in the country, potentially in breach of U.N. Security Council sanctions.

VOA, a U.S.-based broadcaster, reported earlier that a Belize-flagged ship, the Jin Long, docked at South Korea's southeastern port of Pohang on the weekend and is still believed to be at the port. It cited the MarineTraffic vessel locating service.

The ship had been spotted at the Russian port of Nakhodka, along with black materials believed to be North Korean coal, days before arriving in Pohang, it added.

Rep. Yoo Ki-june, a South Korean opposition lawmaker, also said the freighter suspected of carrying 5,100 tons of North Korean coal is anchored at the Pohang port.

South Korea's foreign ministry confirmed the entry of the ship itself but said it's carrying Russian coal.

"There has been no confirmation of a violation of the (U.N.) Security Council resolution in an inspection of the ship by related authorities," the ministry's spokesman Noh Kyu-duk said at a press briefing.

He added they reviewed relevant documents but would not provide other details.

Separately, South Korea is looking into allegations that several foreign cargo ships, with North Korean coal loaded, have already docked at South Korean ports in violation of international sanctions against Pyongyang.

The North is banned from exporting coal, iron ore and other mineral resources under Resolution 2371, passed in August last year. U.N. sanctions call for a country to capture and look into a vessel suspected of engaging in prohibited activities with North Korea.

lcd@yna.co.kr

sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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