A North Korean freight carrier has reportedly abandoned a plan to dock at Niigata prefecture in Japan, originally slated for the middle of this month.

Japanese media reported that the North Korean vessel's decision comes in the wake of strengthened port entry regulations by local Japanese authorities. Starting this month, Niigata prefecture is obliging all foreign ships entering its ports to be insured by an internationally-credible insurance firm.

North Korea is believed to still be in the process of taking out an insurance policy for the freighter.