A country that has allowed North Korean vessels to sail under its flag has canceled the registrations in line with United Nations sanctions on the communist regime, a senior government official said Sunday.

Without naming the country, the official told reporters that it was one of several nations that allowed the North to skirt taxes and other regulations under a practice called flag of convenience.

The vessels whose registrations were canceled belonged to the Ocean Maritime Management Company, which has been blacklisted under U.N. sanctions.

Earlier this month, the U.N. Security Council adopted a new resolution punishing Pyongyang for its fourth nuclear test in January and long-range rocket launch last month.

Among other sanctions measures, the resolution blacklists 31 vessels belonging to OMM. (Yonhap)