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| Korea |
| Japan Bars N. Korean Ship From Leaving |
| 2003-08-26 |
| NIIGATA - A North Korean ferry was stuck in a Japanese port Tuesday after it failed safety inspections imposed as part of a global crackdown on alleged smuggling of drugs and weapons by the communist state. Japanese officials gathered more than 100 inspectors from three different ministries to comb the passenger ferry bow to stern. Nobody does port inspections better than the Japanese. They’ve had lots of practice stopping American imports from getting off ships for decades! The Mangyongbong-92 was cited for five violations. Authorities said the ship, scheduled to return to North Korea from this northern Japanese port on Tuesday morning, could not sail until the problems are fixed. ``I can’t say for sure, but I think it is probably going to be late,’’ the regional transportation authority chief, Ryoichi Sonoda, told reporters while outlining the violations. I’m surprised a little juche didn’t fix all problems. The inspectors found the ship was missing several safety features: a fire damper in a kitchen exhaust duct; emergency exits signs meeting height and lighting specifics; a wireless phone for communicating with airplanes in emergencies; and a fire extinguisher that uses sea water. A divider for oil and bilge water was also deemed faulty. My Gawd: improper emergency exit signs? How could such a ship ever sail! The tough inspections tested relations between the two nations as they prepare for multilateral talks this week in Beijing on North Korea’s alleged effort to develop nuclear weapons. The United States, Russia, South Korea and China will also participate in the summit. The inspections also come as Japan, Australia and other nations accuse North Korean ships of smuggling weapons and drugs to support its "Sir, we have another contact." "Designate that one as ’Pogey-Bait 3’. Tell me about it." "Sir, it’s a diesel, woobly screw, erratic course, no reason to be out here, and it’s trailing lines to snag seaweed." "Okay, it’s a North Korean for sure." A spokesman for the General Association for Korean Residents in Japan, a pro-Pyongyang group, said ferry operators would try to fix the problems and depart as scheduled. ``Japanese authorities appear intent on suspending the ship’s scheduled departure in one way or another,’’ the spokesman said, speaking on condition of anonymity. ``This is nothing but harassment.’’ Correct you are, pal! Get the message? About 1,500 police, some brandishing riot shields, helmets and batons, awaited the ship when it pulled into harbor earlier in the day. They stood guard as right-wing extremists and other protesters blasted the incoming ship with chants of ``Go Home!’’ as pro-Pyongyang Japanese Not this week! And it does call into question, just where are the parts coming from if they’re being shipped from Japan to CrazyLand? North Korea denies the allegations and calls the ship a lifeline of humanitarian contact between North Koreans living in Japan and relatives back home. About 200 people, mostly elderly people or |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #5 The Japanese may have to inspect these ships in full riot gear, if the Norks start including reporters in their crews... |
| Posted by: snellenr 2003-8-26 9:27:21 AM |
| #4 A suspected North Korean smuggling ship set sail from Japan on Tuesday after being detained for safety violations amid a global crackdown on alleged drugs and weapons trafficking by the communist state. Students in black and white school uniforms lined the deck's railing, clapping hands, singing songs and waving giant red and blue North Korean flags as the Mangyongbong-92 eased away from the pier just after sunset. In contrast to the boat's hotly contested arrival, when raucous anti-North Korean protesters swarmed the waterfront, no demonstrators were seen as it set sail. The Transport Ministry informed the ship's captain Tuesday it would be allowed to leave if four conditions were met, including increasing the number of fire extinguishers to compensate for the lack of a kitchen fire damper and assigning a person to direct passengers to safety in the event of an emergency. Ogawa said the ship was cleared for departure after the captain promised to fix them in Wonsan. He added that a fifth violation - a faulty divider for oil and bilge water - was repaired in Niigata. By mid-afternoon, about 35 inspectors in helmets and jumpsuits had boarded the ferry to certify the conditions had been met, and deboarded satisfied. Meanwhile, Japanese authorities showed no signs of letting up their tight surveillance, with officials inspecting individual cans of beer before allowing them to be brought on board. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-8-26 9:04:55 AM |
| #3 I think there's something on that ship if they have 1,500 police waiting for it. It's time too take a page out of the old 'Hoover' book. Blackmail. |
| Posted by: Charles 2003-8-26 7:53:52 AM |
| #2 The captain tried to bribe the inspectors with white slag and an autographed Glo-in-the-Dark-on-Black-Velvet picture of the Dear Leader, but the Japanese weren't biting. |
| Posted by: Watcher 2003-8-26 5:03:26 AM |
| #1 This was on the news. The Nork expat community living in Japan has funneled cash, intelligence, expertise, technology, and who-knows-what else to the Kim regime for decades. It is one of the most dangerous vectors in the whole saga. Their support is just as critical to Kim and dangerous to us as China's or the S. Korean leftwing and student radicals' role. I cannot condone anything the Japanese Right-Wing Of course most Japanese people despise the Norks and their own extremeists so I think it's ultimately unfortunate if the Right-Wingers can use this event for their own agenda, a chance to angle in on mainstream opinion. They bring potential ill-repute to the worthy cause of bring more scrutiny on this 5th column and the drive to cut off this source of critical support for Juche. |
| Posted by: Tokyo Taro 2003-8-26 3:31:22 AM |