The North Korean flagged Mangyongbong ship has been denied entry to Vladivostok’s port since last Wednesday, the vessels’ operators have told NK News.

The vessel arrived in the vicinity of Vladivostok on January 31, the NK Pro Ship Tracker showed, but was reportedly denied entry by customs officials on suspicion of carrying goods prohibited for import into Russia by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Mikhail Timofeevich Khmel, Deputy Director General of InvestStroiTrest – the company which operates the vessel’s Vladivostok to Rason line – told NK Newsthat the ship had been carrying “animal feed” and insisted he