The government seized and searched four shipping containers suspected of carrying banned items to North Korea at Busan Port in September, it emerged Monday.
"The search was carried out in conformity with UN Security Council Resolution 1874 sanctioning North Korea after its second nuclear test in May," a senior official said. "We consulted with the U.S. about this beforehand." He said the containers were full of chemical hazard suits.
| Gee, why do they need hazard suits ... |
According to a source, the government put a port embargo on a Panama-registered cargo ship which had arrived at New Busan Port via China last month and searched four containers. An official said the Busan Coast Guard and Busan Port Authority on Sept. 22 searched the four shipping containers at the request of intelligence authorities.
The hazard suits themselves do not fall under the sanctions, but they could be used at nuclear facilities or chemical weapons plants. |