미 국무부, 북한산 석탄 반입 논란에 '한국 정부 신뢰'
There have been reports that South Korea has failed to stop North Korean coal from being shipped into the country.
But on Wednesday, the U.S. reaffirmed its trust in South Korea.
The State Department told Yonhap News... that it considers the government in Seoul a reliable partner in the enforcement of UN Security Council resolutions, which it's required to do by inspecting ships that are under suspicion.
The State Department said Washington and Seoul are working together closely,... and it's aware that South Korea has opened an investigation into the coal import claims.
UN sanctions ban the North from selling mineral resources, but one of several incidents occured just last weekend when a ship docked in South Korea after stopping at a Russian port with black material believed to be coal from the North.