--- description: Libyan government forces intercepted the tanker Monday after it left a rebel-held port in eastern Libya loaded with oil. title: North Korean Oil Tanker Intercepted by Libyan Forces image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltae5676bed3865205/698684cf35ba6f4a0ec00e61/noko-tanker.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Libya](/tag/libya/) ## Libya Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Libyan Forces Intercept North Korean Tanker with 'Illicitly Obtained' Oil  by [Noah Rayman](/author/noah-rayman/)  ## Noah Rayman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 10, 2014 7:49 PM CUT  A North Korean-flagged tanker is docked at the Es Sider export terminal in Ras Lanuf March 8, 2014. A North Korean-flagged tanker is docked at the Es Sider export terminal in Ras Lanuf March 8, 2014.Esam Al-Fetori—Reuters  by [Noah Rayman](/author/noah-rayman/)  ## Noah Rayman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 10, 2014 7:49 PM CUT Libyan government forces [intercepted](Libyan government forces have reportedly intercepted the North Korean-flagged tanker that left a rebel-held port in Eastern Libya Monday loaded with oil. Officials in the Libyan government had threatened to use force against the tanker after it docked Friday at the oil port of Al Sidra, but on Monday the military stopped it on its way out of the port with orders to bring it to territory under government control, AFP and local media report. The ship’s presence at the rebel-held port spawned an international crisis, with the State Department saying that it was “deeply concerned” over the loading of the “illicitly obtained” oil. "undefined") a North Korean-flagged tanker Monday after it left a rebel-held port in eastern Libya loaded with oil. Officials in the Libyan government had threatened to use force against the tanker after it docked Friday at the oil port of Al Sidra, but on Monday the military stopped it as it was leaving the port with orders to bring it to territory under government control, AFP reports. The ship’s presence at the rebel port spawned an international crisis, with the State Department saying that it was “deeply concerned” over the loading of the “illicitly obtained” oil. “This action is counter to law and amounts to theft from the Libyan people,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. “The oil belongs to the Libyan National Oil Company and its joint venture partners.” The partners included American companies, she said. Libya’s General National Congress said that it had charged a task force of soldiers and former rebel militia fighters to bring ports overtaken by rebels last July back under government control. \[[AFP](Libyan government forces have reportedly intercepted the North Korean-flagged tanker that left a rebel-held port in Eastern Libya Monday loaded with oil. Officials in the Libyan government had threatened to use force against the tanker after it docked Friday at the oil port of Al Sidra, but on Monday the military stopped it on its way out of the port with orders to bring it to territory under government control, AFP and local media report. The ship’s presence at the rebel-held port spawned an international crisis, with the State Department saying that it was “deeply concerned” over the loading of the “illicitly obtained” oil. 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