North Korea made headlines last week when it kicked off a diplomatic dispute with Mexico, announcing it would take the “necessary measures” to secure the release of a vessel detained by Mexican authorities last July.

The DPRK’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations An Myong-hun claimed the Mu Du Bong vessel is strictly a commercial vessel, calling the seizure a “rampant violation” of its sovereignty.

The North Korean diplomat’s remarks brought Mexico’s nine-month seizure into the spotlight, in the process highlighting the Latin American country’s indecision over what to do