The Philippine Coast Guard impounded the North Korean ship Jin Teng on Saturday after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) ordered the vessel held in line with new UN Security Council sanctions order.
The Jin Teng arrived in Subic from Palembang, Indonesia, on Thursday with a crew of 21 and a cargo of palm kernel expeller, which could be used in making farm animal feed.
The Coast Guard had inspected the vessel twice, but no contraband was found.
But the inspectors spotted minor deficiencies, including missing fire hoses, a corroded air vent and electrical switches without insulation.
On Sunday, the Coast Guard said it was closely watching the vessel and its crew as Philippine officials waited for a response from the United Nations to come to the Philippines to inspect the ship.
“We will probably keep it in Subic pending our request for guidance on its disposition,” said Cmdr. Armand Balilo, spokesperson for the Coast Guard.
The impounding of the Sierra Leone-flagged Jin Teng was the first reported case of the new UN sanctions against North Korea being enforced.
The latest sanctions include mandatory inspections of cargo leaving and entering North Korea by sea or air, a ban on all sales or transfer of small arms and light weapons to Pyongyang, and the expulsion of diplomats from the North who engage in “illicit activities.”
