MEXICO-NORTH KOREA/SHIP Mexico holds North Korea ship, stoking Pyongyang tensions

Record ID: 160386

  • Title: MEXICO-NORTH KOREA/SHIP Mexico holds North Korea ship, stoking Pyongyang tensions
  • Date: 10th April 2015
  • Summary: TUXPAN, VERACRUZ, MEXICO (APRIL 09, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NORTH KOREAN SHIP AT PORT CREW ON SHIP MORE OF SHIP AT PORT CREW MEMBER ON SHIP VARIOUS OF SHIP AT PORT VARIOUS OF CREW ON SHIP TUXPAN PORT LOCALS AT PORT EXTERIOR OF TUXPAN PORT HEADQUARTERS CAPTAIN OF TUXPAN PORT ALBERTO ANTONIO OROSCO WALKING TO OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CAPTAIN OF TUXPAN PORT, ALBERTO AN
  • Embargoed: 25th April 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAKZM032SCEL6OCRUR09LHP83F
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A North Korean ship allegedly blacklisted under international sanctions is being held at a port in Mexico's gulf, leaving some 50 crew members stranded and fueling tensions between the two nations.
    The 6,700-tonne freighter "Mu Du Bong," which had come from Cuba, ran aground on a reef last July, 13 km (8 miles) northeast of Tuxpan in Mexico's Veracruz state. Reuters video shows the ship is still in the port of Tuxpan on Thursday (April 09).
    Earlier this week, North Korea accused Mexico of illegally detaining the ship and warned it would take "necessary measures" to release the vessel.
    But speaking at a news conference in Tuxpan, the port's captain Alberto Antonio Orosco told media the ship is free to leave providing it follows the required paperwork from authorities.
    "I can report that the Mu Du Bong ship that this captaincy can authorize its leave (providing) it receives the necessary instructions, including that the ship needs to fulfill certain documentation. Whilst the boat doesn't fulfill such documentation and doesn't clarifies the issue that the foreign relations ministry mentioned last night I will (not) have the authority to permit it's exit," said Orosco.
    According to reports, the North Korean cargo ship damaged nearly an acre of coral reefs off Mexico's coast due to a navigational error.
    North Korea's Deputy U.N. Ambassador An Myong Hunt has reported that the country had paid an undisclosed sum to Mexico for damages to the reef where the ship had run aground and now the ship and its crew should be released.
    Orosco told media the ship's crew are not being detained and are free to move about on land.
    "The crew are in good condition, they have good food, they have fuel, they have everything. The crew are not detained, they don't have any restrictions. They can go on land," he added.
    North Korea is under United Nations sanctions due to its nuclear tests and missile launches. In addition to an arms embargo, Pyongyang is banned from trade in nuclear and missile technology and is not allowed to import luxury goods.
    But authorities in Pyongyang have reported that the Mu Du Bong was not linked to the blacklisted firm, Ocean Maritime Management Company, and therefore not subject to U.N. sanctions.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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