ID :
75073
Thu, 08/13/2009 - 11:20
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/75073
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Iraq-bound seized North Korean Ship taken to Andhra Pradesh
New Delhi, Aug 12 (PTI) The seized North Korean ship is
being brought to Kakinada port in southern Indian state of
Andhra Pradesh where central security agencies and nuclear
scientists will carry out an extensive search of the vessel 'M
V Mu San' intercepted off Andaman and Nicobar coast while
awaiting clearance to proceed to Iraq.
The ship's 39-member crew which also includes a North
Korean government official would be questioned in the port
itself, official sources said. The sources said presence of a
government official in a merchant vessel has aroused
suspicions.
The questioning of the crew got delayed due to
non-availability of a Korean interpreter, they said, adding
this was a unique ship where none were fluent in English
language. A lady interpreter was also despatched by Indian
Ministry of External Affairs Tuesday.
During the initial round of questioning of the ship's
Captain, which was made possible with the help of a local
interpreter in Andaman and Nicobar Island it emerged that the
ship, carrying 16,500 metric tones of sugar, was on its way to
Iraq after loading in Thailand, the sources said.
The Captain who spoke in broken english reportedly said
the ship had developed a technical snag and that he had to
change the piston besides carrying out some other mechanical
work. The crew was instructed by their handlers to wait for
fresh instructions before leaving the Indian waters.
The 'M V Mu San' dropped anchor off Hut Bay island in the
Andaman islands on August six without permission and was
detained by the coastguard after a over six-hour chase.
The journey of the ship to Iraq raised suspicion among
the security agencies as the US would not have hired a North
Korean ship for transporting anything to Iraq after the UN
imposed sanctions on it in June this year following conduct of
nuclear tests on May 25 this year.
The UN sanctions imposed on North Korea are tougher than
the earlier ones which include provisions for inspection of
North Korean ships in ports and on the high seas, a tighter
ban on arms exports, and curbing loans and money transfers to
that country.
The track record of the ship shows that it had anchored
at Kandla port in January this year and has been frequently
sailing between China and Pakistan, the sources said, adding
the security agencies were now trying to ascertain the purpose
of its visit to India and the agents who had dealt with the
load at that time.
Two scientists from Kalapakkam in Tamil Nadu have also
been summoned to the port in Andhra Pradesh where after
offloading 16,500 metric tones of sugar from the ship, various
tests would be conducted to ascertain whether there was any
radio-active material on the ship.
The questioning of the ship captain also led to the
finding that the ship had developed a technical snag and that
he had to change the piston besides carrying out some other
mechanical work. They were instructed by their handlers to
wait for the next set of directions before making a move from
Indian waters. PTI SKL
DDC
being brought to Kakinada port in southern Indian state of
Andhra Pradesh where central security agencies and nuclear
scientists will carry out an extensive search of the vessel 'M
V Mu San' intercepted off Andaman and Nicobar coast while
awaiting clearance to proceed to Iraq.
The ship's 39-member crew which also includes a North
Korean government official would be questioned in the port
itself, official sources said. The sources said presence of a
government official in a merchant vessel has aroused
suspicions.
The questioning of the crew got delayed due to
non-availability of a Korean interpreter, they said, adding
this was a unique ship where none were fluent in English
language. A lady interpreter was also despatched by Indian
Ministry of External Affairs Tuesday.
During the initial round of questioning of the ship's
Captain, which was made possible with the help of a local
interpreter in Andaman and Nicobar Island it emerged that the
ship, carrying 16,500 metric tones of sugar, was on its way to
Iraq after loading in Thailand, the sources said.
The Captain who spoke in broken english reportedly said
the ship had developed a technical snag and that he had to
change the piston besides carrying out some other mechanical
work. The crew was instructed by their handlers to wait for
fresh instructions before leaving the Indian waters.
The 'M V Mu San' dropped anchor off Hut Bay island in the
Andaman islands on August six without permission and was
detained by the coastguard after a over six-hour chase.
The journey of the ship to Iraq raised suspicion among
the security agencies as the US would not have hired a North
Korean ship for transporting anything to Iraq after the UN
imposed sanctions on it in June this year following conduct of
nuclear tests on May 25 this year.
The UN sanctions imposed on North Korea are tougher than
the earlier ones which include provisions for inspection of
North Korean ships in ports and on the high seas, a tighter
ban on arms exports, and curbing loans and money transfers to
that country.
The track record of the ship shows that it had anchored
at Kandla port in January this year and has been frequently
sailing between China and Pakistan, the sources said, adding
the security agencies were now trying to ascertain the purpose
of its visit to India and the agents who had dealt with the
load at that time.
Two scientists from Kalapakkam in Tamil Nadu have also
been summoned to the port in Andhra Pradesh where after
offloading 16,500 metric tones of sugar from the ship, various
tests would be conducted to ascertain whether there was any
radio-active material on the ship.
The questioning of the ship captain also led to the
finding that the ship had developed a technical snag and that
he had to change the piston besides carrying out some other
mechanical work. They were instructed by their handlers to
wait for the next set of directions before making a move from
Indian waters. PTI SKL
DDC
