North Korea has asked the United Nations Secretary-General to deal with what it calls the "illegal" seizure of one of its cargo ships which is currently in American Samoa.
Wise Honest in Pago Pago, American Samoa Photo: Fili Sagapolutele / RNZ Pacific
North Korea's KCNA state news agency reports the appeal to deal with the United States seizure was made to Antonio Guterres on Friday .
In a letter sent to Mr Guterres, the North Korean ambassador to the UN said the act of dispossession clearly indicates that the United States is a gangster country that does not care about international laws.
The letter also called for "urgent measures" by Mr Guterres and claimed that Washington infringed the North's sovereignty and violated UN charters.
The US claims the cargo ship, Wise Honest, was seized and sent to American Samoa because it carried coal shipments in violation of sanctions.