Detained North Korean ship carrying merchandise, probe on: Navy chief
August 8th, 2009 - 5:51 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Aug 8 (IANS) A North Korean ship India has detained in the Bay of Bengal was found to be carrying only genuine merchandise but further investigations were on, Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta said Saturday.
“As per the reports available, the ship was carrying cargo containing genuine merchandise,” Mehta told reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Armed Forces Tribunal here.
He, however, added that the ship had no business to be in Indian waters.
“The fact is that the ship had no business to be there…that (it was carrying nuclear components) was our apprehension also. At the moment, it is carrying genuine merchandise,” Mehta said in reply to a query.
North Korean ships in the past have been found to be involved in ferrying nuclear and missile components for regimes clandestinely seeking to acquire such arsenals.
The Indian Coast Guard detained the North Korean ship a few days back after it had dropped anchor off Hut Bay in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The ship was then escorted to Port Blair Friday.
The investigating agencies have found that the ship, which set sail from a port in Thailand July 27, was carrying 16,000 tonnes of sugar to an Iraqi port.
- North Korean ship had no business to be in Indian waters: Sureesh Mehta - Aug 08, 2009
- Detained North Korean ship's China voyages under scanner - Aug 09, 2009
- Nothing 'fishy' about North Korean ship, says navy (Lead) - Oct 04, 2009
- Naval Chief says investigation of North Korean ship is going on - Aug 08, 2009
- No nuke materials on detained North Korean ship, says scientists - Aug 14, 2009
- North Korean ship docks in Andhra's Kakinada Port for probe - Aug 22, 2009
- N.Korean ship's cargo to be off-loaded for inspection - Aug 23, 2009
- Investigation of detained North Korean ship continuing - Aug 11, 2009
- Detained North Korean ship may be booked under Maritime Act - Aug 17, 2009
- Coast guard detains suspicious North Korean ship in Andaman - Aug 08, 2009
- Seized North Korean ship moved to Andhra Coast for interrogation - Aug 12, 2009
- Andaman Nicobar islands to have more airbases - Feb 05, 2010
- US refuses to comment about India detaining North Korean ship - Aug 14, 2009
- First Indian seaplane service launches Monday - Dec 26, 2010
- Sugar deal lured Korean ship to India - Aug 18, 2009
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