US refuses to address North Korean demand for ship's return

A view from the top of a two story building in Fagatogo village overlooking the Port of Pago Pago, as the North Korean cargo ship, Wise Honest, docks at the main docking section of Pago Pago Harbor, Saturday, May 11, 2019, in Pago Pago, American Samoa. AP-Yonhap

The U.S. State Department said Tuesday it has no comment to make regarding North Korea's demand for the return of a U.S.-seized cargo vessel.

A North Korean foreign ministry spokesperson earlier denounced the seizure of the Wise Honest as an "unlawful and outrageous act."

In a statement to state media, the official said the U.S. should "ponder over the consequences its heinous act might have on the future developments and immediately return our ship."

An undated surveillance image provided in a U.S. Department of Justice complaint for forfeiture released May 9, 2019 shows what is described as the North Korean vessel Wise Honest being loaded with coal in Nampo, North Korea. Reuters-Yonhap

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U.S.-North Korea tensions have renewed following the regime's launch of short-range missiles last week, which came amid stalled denuclearization negotiations between the sides.

The U.S. Justice Department announced the same day as the launch that it has seized the 17,061-ton Wise Honest, which was intercepted by Indonesian authorities last year on suspicion of delivering coal exports in violation of U.N. sanctions on Pyongyang. (Yonhap)

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