A UN-sanctioned coal smuggling vessel appeared near the south coast of Taiwan on Wednesday, suggesting it continues sailing despite being banned from international ports.

The Hua Fu only broadcast its location briefly, in what represents the first time the ship advertised its location to terrestrial tracking systems since December last year.

The 10,300-tonne cargo ship and its owner Chang An Shipping and Technology were both sanctioned by the UN in March last year for their role in illegally transferring North Korean coal.

UN resolutions prohibit member states from importing many DPRK raw materials