Chong Chon Gang: Difference between revisions
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[Annie Larsen]] |
* [[Annie Larsen affair]] |
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* [[Cherbourg Project]] |
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* [[MV Francop]] |
* [[MV Francop]] |
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* [[Victoria Affair]] |
* [[Victoria Affair]] |
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Revision as of 17:42, 4 August 2013
Warning: Display title "Chong Chon Gang" overrides earlier display title "<i>Chong Chon Gang</i>" (help).
| History | |
|---|---|
 North Korea | |
| Name | Chong Chon Gang |
| Namesake | Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River |
| Owner | Chongchongang Shipping |
| Operator | Chongchongang Shipping |
| Port of registry | North Korea |
| Builder | Nampo Shipyard |
| Launched | 1977 |
| Identification | IMO number: 7937317 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Bulk carrier |
| Tonnage | 9,147 GT |
| Length | 155 m (509 ft) |
| Beam | 20 m (66 ft) |
| Draft | 8.9 m (29 ft) |
| Crew | 35 |
Chong Chon Gang (Chosŏn'gŭl: 청천강호, Hanja: 淸川江號[1]) is a North Korean bulk carrier ship.
The ship was built in 1977 and is 155 metres (509 ft) long.[2] It was built in Nampo and its owner is listed as Chongchongang Shipping of Pyongyang.[3] Chongchongang Shipping is likely one of the front companies answering to Office #39 (otherwise known as the Central Committee Bureau 39) of the Korean Workers' Party, which is responsible for state sanctioned illicit activities such as the smuggling of prohibited items such as weapons and luxury goods. Office #39 was created in 1974 as a department level organization within the KWP Secretariat, under the KWP Central Committee. Its primary role was, and still is, the running of illegal activities to generate hard currency for the North Korean government.[4]
History
On 11 March 2009, the ship was chased by Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea. Pirates shot guns and an RPG from a speedboat, which damaged the ship and injured two crew members.[5][6] After the attack, the ship caught the attention of maritime officials when it made a stop at the Russian naval facility in Tartus, Syria. It's unknown why it was there.
Detentions
On 26 February 2003, Iran detained the ship at Bandar Imam Khomeini.[5]
In February 2010, Ukrainian authorities detained the ship at Oktyabrsk. The ship was carrying heroin substitute, alcohol, cigarettes, and AK-47 ammunition.[7]
In March 2010, Egypt cited that the ship was carrying "dangerous goods".
On July 15, 2013,[8] the ship was seized by authorities in Panama at Manzanillo International Terminal on a report that it was transporting illegal drugs. Reportedly, when Panamanian troops approached the vessel the crew responded violently and the captain later attempted to kill himself.[9] A reported missile was found buried in a cargo of 250,000 bags of brown sugar resulting in the vessel's seizure. The vessel was reportedly on its way from Cuba to North Korea. As of 16 July, only two of the several cargo compartments had been inspected. North Korea has yet to comment, while Cuba stated that the "obsolete weapons" on the ship were going to North Korea for repair. These weapons included two anti-aircraft missile batteries, nine air defense missiles in parts, two MiG-21 fighter planes and 15 engines for them.[8][10] All of these weapons were built by the Soviet Union in the mid 20th century.[11]
See also
References
- ^ "パナマ大統領「北朝鮮の船舶からミサイル部品押収」" ["Missile parts seized from ships of North Korea" Panama President]. Joong-Ang Il-bo (in Japanese). 17 July 2013.
- ^ "Chong Chon Gang: North Korean-flag ship with missile". Convenient Flags. 16 July 2013.
- ^ "Chong Chon Gang". Maritime Connector. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
- ^ Kan, Paul Rexton; Bechtol, Bruce E., Jr.; Collins, Robert M. (March 2010). "Criminal Sovereignty: Understanding North Korea's Illicit International Activities" (pdf). Strategic Studies Institute. U.S. Army War College.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Dorell, Oren (18 July 2013). "North Korea ship held in Panama has a colorful past". USA Today.
- ^ Marete, Gitonga (18 March 2009). "Crew member shot as pirates attack vessel". Mombasa. Sunday Nation.
- ^ "Вся правда :: Ким Чен Ир будет недоволен: в Украине арестовали судно КНДР" [Kim Jong-il will be dissatisfied in Ukraine DPRK ship arrested]. Vsya-Pravda (in Russian). 2 February 2010.
- ^ a b Castillo, Mariano; Shoichet, Catherine E.; Oppmann, Patrick (17 July 2013). "Cuba: 'Obsolete' weapons on ship were going to North Korea for repair". CNN.
- ^ Johnston, Ian; Bruton, F. Brinley (16 July 2013). "North Korean ship carrying hidden 'missile equipment' detained after leaving Cuba". NBC News.
- ^ "North Korean ship with 'military cargo' held by Panama". Asia. BBC News. 16 July 2013.
- ^ Kriel, Lomi (21 July 2013). "Panama finds MiG fighter jets on North Korean arms ship". Yahoo! News. Reuters.
External links
- "Chong Chon Gang". Marine Traffic.
- Eckert, Paul (18 July 2013). "'Desperate' Cuba voyage is latest scrape for North Korean fleet". Reuters.