The U.S. has seized a North Korean ship that was caught violating international sanctions.
Justice Department officials confirmed the seizure to several media outlets Thursday.
Authorities say the massive cargo ship — called the Wise Honest — was being used to illegally export North Korean coal. Back in 2017, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution banning the country from doing just that.
The DOJ says this is the first time the U.S. has seized a North Korean ship for international sanctions violations. The move came as tensions between the two countries continue to escalate.
South Korean officials said Thursday the North launched two more ballistic missiles in a provocation that threatens to undercut denuclearization talks. They have been on the rocks since Kim Jong-un and President Donald Trump last met.
