A third North-Korea linked vessel recently removed from a UN blacklist returned to operations recently, the NK Pro vessel tracker shows, possibly sailing with an illegally obtained flag.

The Ever Bright 88 was originally added to a UN sanctions list of ships controlled by Ocean Maritime Management (OMM) – a DPRK shipping company and weapon smuggler – but was removed along with four others in December last year.

Three of the vessels are now sailing outside of North Korean waters again, with the Ever Bright 88 broadcasting its position south of the Bohai Sea in north-east China.