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국정원 “한국에 적발된 北석탄 수출 화물선, 日항구 입항”The National Intelligence Service briefed the National Assembly of its findings on Japan's reported violation of UN Security council sanctions on North Korea, as well as the latest developments in Pyeongyang.Kim Mok-yeon has this report.In a closed-door briefing addressing the National Assembly's intelligence committee,National Intelligence Service chief Suh Hoon said that several foreign-flagged ships suspected of carrying North Korean coal had been detected coming in and out of Japan.According to opposition party lawmaker Lee Eun-jae who was in the meeting, at least three suspected ships have been found making port calls in Japan recently."The NIS explained that by looking at a website that analyzes shipping information, the Rich Glory, the Shining Rich and the Jin Long have been detected entering Japan's Naha and Noshiro ports."Last year, the Seoul government banned the ships from entering South Korea as they were confirmed to have brought North Korean resources to the South.The spy agency also said that despite its warning that the ships entry is a clear violation of the UN sanctions resolution, Japan is still allowing the entry and not actively taking appropriate measures.During the meeting, the National Intelligence Service also touched upon the latest Seoul-Pyeongyang-Washington summit, calling it a significant event that boosted stalled denuclearization talks.It said that North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho and first vice minister Choe Son-hui prepared for the trilateral summit, with the help of the Workers' Party's Unification Front Department.In the upcoming Pyeongyang-Washington talks, the NIS told the committee that preparations for working-level negotiations are ongoing, and that it is likely that U.S. special representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun and former North Korean ambassador to Vietnam Kim Myong-gil will lead the talks.Concerning reports that claimed North Korean nuclear negotiator Kim Hyok-chol had been executed as punishment for the failed Hanoi summit, the NIS said Kim appears to be alive.Meanwhile, the NIS also reported that Pyeongyang has been suffering economically due to the ongoing international sanctions.It said that Pyeongyang's trade volume dropped to 2.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2018, which is nearly half of the figure on-year, and that its trade deficit increased by 17.5 percent.The NIS reportedly added that no unusual movement has been detected at the North's major nuclear facilities.Kim Mok-yeon, Arirang News.