The US said Thursday that it has seized a North Korean cargo ship that was used to violate international sanctions, a first-of-its kind enforcement action that comes amid a tense moment in relations between the two countries. The "Wise Honest," North Korea's second largest cargo ship, was detained in April 2018 as it travelled toward Indonesia. The coal trade itself is also believed to fund the isolated country's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. He later added: "The US sanctions against North Korea reflect the threat these programs pose to US national security." The US has prosecuted people and businesses for violating sanctions but has never before seized a North Korean ship.

Source: The Telegraph May 10, 2019 07:07 UTC