Date: Monday, 18 November 2019
"This is a serious escalation that proves that the Houthi rebels have no real desire to seriously engage in the peace process," he added.
The Korean vessel was reportedly taken an area at the southern end of the Red Sea, where it is currently being held by the Houthis, the rebels confirmed.
"Yemeni coast guards... are checking to see whether (the vessel) belongs to the countries of aggression or to South Korea, in which case it will be released after completing legal procedures. The crews are being well treated," Houthi official Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi told Reuters.
It is not clear if one or two vessels were seized by the rebels.
The news comes as Yemen's prime minister flew back to the southern city of Aden under the terms of a peace deal with southern separatists who expelled the government from its provisional capital in August.
It was hoped that the move would be a step towards a broader peace in the country, which has been in a state of war since the Houthis seized the Yemeni capital Sanaa in 2014.
A Saudi-led coalition intervened in the war against the Houthis, intensifying the conflict which is believed to have killed tens of thousands of civilians and brought Yemen to the brink of famine.
A number of vessels have been attacked or seized by Houthi rebels during the war in the Red Sea, one of the busiest waterways in the world.
Agencies contributed to this story.