Suspicion of illegal ship-to-ship transfers of goods by Rye Song Gang 1, North Koreanflagged tanker, and Wan Heng 11, Belizean-flagged tanker (February 13, 2018)

1. Overview
Before dawn on February 13, 2018, a P-3C aircraft of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (Fleet Air Wing 1 P-3C : Kanoya) found that Rye Song Gang 1, North Korean-flagged tanker, was lying alongside Wan Heng 11, Belizean flagged tanker, on the high sea(around 250 km eastern offshore of Shanghai ) in the East China Sea.
Judging from the fact that the two vessels lay alongside each other with their lights turned on at night, both vessels could have been engaged in some type of activity. Following a comprehensive assessment, the Government of Japan strongly suspects that they conducted ship-to-ship transfers banned by UNSCR.

2. Japan’s Response
Japan notified the Security Council Committee of this incident and shared information with related countries. Japan also expressed its interest to the Wan Heng 11- related countries.