Tokyo-based pro-North Korean newspaper Chosun Shinbo has reported that a North Korean freight carrier, earlier banned from entering Japan's Niigata prefecture, has requested the withdrawal of the prohibitive measure to the governor of the prefecture.

The paper said the North Korean side insisted that the Japanese prefecture violated numerous regulations by not allowing the entry of the North Korean freighter Mangyongbong-92, originally slated to dock at Niigata in mid-January.

Local Japanese authorities had reportedly informed the North that starting this month, the prefecture is obliging all foreign ships entering its ports to be insured by an internationally-credible insurance firm. The authorities said that if such measures were not abided by, the ship in violation would be subject to limited use of the Japanese pier.

Niigata prefecture is currently considering revising its maritime law to empower its governor to deny the port entry of certain vessels.

The North Korean ship has reportedly given up on docking in Japan.