TOYAMA -- A North Korean freighter left a Japanese port on Friday, ending a two-week standoff with local authorities who refused to let it dock on the grounds the vessel failed to meet safety standards.
The dispute was resolved around noon after the 874-ton Suyangsan took on fuel provided by the Toyama Prefectural Government and left Toyama port for the Chinese port of Dandong.
Japanese authorities have recently been cracking down on North Korean ships entering ports through stepped-up security inspections. The campaign comes in the wake of allegations that the Mangyongbong-92, a North Korean ferry, was involved in espionage the illegal drug trade.