Kang Nam 1

The Kang Nam 1 is a 2,000 ton North Korean cargo ship.[1] It is one of a series of five vessels, owned by the North Korean government, named Kang Nam 1 through Kang Nam 5.[2] According to South Korean media reports, the Kang Nam 1 itself was probably built in Germany in the late 1980s. It then passed through a series of owners to a South Korean maritime firm, which in turn sold it to North Korea. In the summer of 2009, the ship left North Korean waters and entered international waters, probably carrying military equipment bound for Burma while being monitored by the U.S. Navy, before it turned back and headed for North Korea.

June/July 2009 events

The Kang Nam 1 came to international attention 17 June 2009, after leaving port in Nampo, North Korea and entered International waters. It began travelling South, along the Chinese coastline. A South Korean intelligence report fed speculation that the ship was destined for Myanmar (Burma) via Singapore with a cargo of weapons banned by the United Nations Security Council, which permits North Korean ships to be searched if suspected of carrying illegal cargo under Resolution 1874. Monitoring by the U.S. Navy began almost immediately, and the USS John S. McCain began pursuit at some point after that.[3] North Korea warned that forced inspection of the ship would be considered an "act of war". Singapore responded that it would "act appropriately" if the ship were to dock at its port.[4] Burmese state media denied that the Kang Nam 1 was coming to dock there,[5] but mentioned that a "rice-bearing" North Korean ship was due to dock at the end of the week.[6]

The crisis took an unusual (and literal) turn when, without explanation, sometime during 28–29 June, the Kang Nam 1 reversed its course.[7] While the ship traveled back toward North Korea, several regional news agencies published more information about it and its possible mission. South Korean intelligence sources reported that the freighter was likely carrying North Korean-manufactured Soviet-era small arms such as AK-47 rifles and RPG-7 anti-tank launchers.[8][9] An unnamed South Korean government source told the Yonhap News Agency that payment for the weapons from Myanmar's government were to take place via an unnamed bank in Malaysia, but had probably been stopped after a U.S. envoy visited Malaysia on 6 July to discuss the situation.[8][10] Myanmar denied involvement with the ship or its cargo,[5] and Malaysia insisted that it would not be involved in "money laundering" and would cooperate if provided any information on the alleged scheme.[10]

The Kang Nam 1 eventually returned to its port of origin in North Korea, sometime between 6 and 8 July,[10][11] attention on it largely displaced when North Korea fired seven test missiles during its return voyage.

References

  1. ^ Choe Sang-hun (21 June 2009). "Test Looms as U.S. Tracks North Korean Ship". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/22/world/asia/22korea.html?em. Retrieved 2009-07-30. 
  2. ^ Grier, Peter (22 June 2009). "Whither the Kang Nam, North Korea's suspect cargo ship?". The Christian Science Monitor. http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0622/p02s04-usfp.html. Retrieved 2009-07-30. 
  3. ^ "Obama and the Rogues - North Korea and Iran intrude on his diplomatic hopes". The Wall Street Journal: p. A11. 23 June 2009. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124562488560735527.html. Retrieved 2009-07-30. 
  4. ^ Yang Huiwen (24 June 2009). "MPA not told of intentions". The Straits Times (Singapore Press Holdings). http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_394895.html. Retrieved 2009-07-30. 
  5. ^ a b Head, Jonathan (25 June 2009). "Burma Denies Link to N Korea Ship". BBC News Online. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8118647.stm. Retrieved 2009-07-30. 
  6. ^ Agence France-Presse (AFP) (25 June 2009). "Burma mum on tracked NKorean ship". Bangkok Post. http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/147068/burma-says-no-information-on-tracked-nkorean-ship. Retrieved 2009-07-30. 
  7. ^ Jelinek, Pauline (AFP) (30 June 2009). "Source: North Korean ship now going the other way". Forbes.com. http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/06/30/ap6603723.html. Retrieved 2009-07-30. "But the U.S. official says that after a week-and-a half at sea, it turned around on Sunday [28 June] or Monday [29 June]." 
  8. ^ a b "NK Uses Malaysian Bank for Weapons Payment". The Korea Times. 4 July 2009. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/07/113_47913.html. Retrieved 2009-07-30. 
  9. ^ Choe Sang-Hun (6 July 2009). "South Korea Says Freighter From North Turns Back". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/07/world/asia/07korea.html. Retrieved 2009-07-30. 
  10. ^ a b c Agence France-Presse (July 6, 2009). "Malaysia calls for evidence on NKorea banking charges". AsiaOne News. http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Malaysia/Story/A1Story20090706-153141.html. Retrieved 2009-07-30. "Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said the government 'does not condone' money laundering and was willing to cooperate to prevent illegal payments. 'If America has any information that is available to them, then I think they should give it to us so we can act upon it.' [...] The Kang Nam 1 freighter, which left North Korea on June 17, was expected to return home later Monday [July 6] after aborting its voyage, South Korea's defence ministry said." 
  11. ^ "Senior State Department Official" (July 8, 2009). "Background Briefing on Interagency Delegation Meetings in China and Malaysia". U.S. State Department. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/july/125845.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-30. "Some of you may have questions about Kang Nam 1, the ship that has turned back and returned to port, its original port of departure."