As South Korea announced a crackdown on companies and individuals linked to North Korea's weapons program, China has barred a North Korean ship from one of its ports. Reports say that harsher sanctions from China and South Korea are underway against the Kim Jong Un-led country.
A Rizhao Maritime Authority, who declined to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said that a North Korean general cargo ship, named Grand Karo, arrived at Rizhao port in northeastern China few days ago, however, the port did not allow the freighter for berthing.
The Diplomat reported that Grand Karo is among the 31 vessels blacklisted by China's Ministry of Transport after they were covered by tougher sanctions on North Korea that were approved by the United Nations Security Council last week. Ship tracking data reveals that at least two other vessels on the list of barred freighters are now sailing away from China's ports.
According to Nikkei Asian Review, sanctions against North Korea will have little impact on Rizhao Port business since most of its trade are with countries like Australia and North and South America. Meanwhile, South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo reported that China had also stopped importing coal from North Korea in early March before the UN sanctions had been officially imposed.
On Tuesday, the government of Seoul said it would pass new sanctions against 30 entities and 40 individuals because of suspected connections to North Korea's weapons program. South Korea blacklisted Mariner's Shipping & Trading from Thailand and Royal Team Corporation from Taiwan, says Reuters. South Korea would also ban vessels that had anchored at the ports of North Korea in the past 180 days.
The government of South Korea underlined that they will ban companies that are on the list of engaging in financial transactions with entities from South Korea and freeze assets that are held in the country.
