North Korea Requests 'Forbidden Fuel' From South Korea

Seoul's Unification Ministry said North Korea has made a provocative request, asking for extra fuel for a vessel that transported members of their delegation.

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“There was a request for oil support during our discussions with the North after the ship arrived, and we’re reviewing it now,” a ministry spokesman, Baik Tae-hyun, disclose in a briefing in Seoul.

The ship, Mangyongbong 92, arrived at South Korea's Mukho port late Tuesday. The ship was carrying 114 members of the country's art troupe and 96 crew members.

The South is reviewing the request and has yet to formally respond, but said that any assistance provided to the ship will be carried out only after international consultation.

It is unclear if South Korea would be in breach of a UN resolution, if the oil is granted.

Euan Graham, international security director at Australia's Lowy Institute, said on Twitter, "North Korea trying to tempt South Korea over the sanctions line. Seoul should resist this one. If Mangyongbong 92 doesn't have fuel for the return trip, let it stay a while longer. See how that goes down."

But, Professor of International Studies at Yonsei University, John Delury, told CNN that it was important to keep the request in context. "International sanctions are designed to cut off resources to the North's nuclear missile program, not to prevent it from sending a peace party to the South (during the Games)."

Washington has repeatedly called for the oil supplied to North Korea be cut, as it aims to disable Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs. North Korea has virtually no domestic oil production and relies on both China and Russia.

Sanctions passed by the UN in December last year cut exports of gasoline, diesel and other refined oil products to North Korea by a total of 89%.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said it was important not to let up the pressure. “We must not be fooled by North Korea’s ‘smile diplomacy,” he told a news conference in Tokyo.

A total of 22 North Korean athletes will compete in ice hockey, figure skating, short track speedskating, cross-country skiing and alpine skiing in Pyeongchang.