Under rare and mysterious circumstances, a ship flying the South Korean flag was spotted trying to enter North Korean waters in late 2020, according to exclusive government photos and documents obtained by NK Pro. The vessel, along with several other Chinese-flagged ships, openly admitted to being involved in potential sanctions-violating activities.

Since 2017, sanctions have barred North Korea from selling seafood or fishing rights to its own waters. Now, government evidence shows that five Chinese-flagged ships — including one that also used a South Korean flag — outright told Japanese authorities that they were on a trip to buy or use North Korean