Jan 25 (NHK) - Japan has released images of a suspected violation of UN Security Council resolutions by a North Korea-registered tanker.
The Japanese foreign and defense ministries on Wednesday put on their websites the images of contact between the ship and a Dominica-registered tanker in the East China Sea.
Japanese government officials say the images were taken by a Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C patrol plane on Saturday. They show the North Korea-registered vessel with its lights on alongside the other ship.
The tankers appear to be engaged in a ship-to-ship transfer of goods at sea, in violation of UNSC resolutions.
Tokyo reported the suspected violation to a UNSC panel on monitoring sanctions against Pyongyang.
Officials of Japan's foreign ministry say the panel banned the North Korea-registered tanker from entering any foreign ports after the United States revealed that the ship engaged in a transfer of goods at sea in November.
They also said the vessel's name has been changed for the purpose of disguise.
Japan's government says North Korea may have shrewdly obtained refined petroleum products whose export to the North is restricted by UN resolutions.
Tokyo says it will step up its patrolling and crackdown efforts in collaboration with other countries.
