Posted on 11/16/2006 6:26:23 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
PARIS (AP) -
French customs officers are inspecting a North Korean ship at an Indian Ocean island off the coast of Africa as part of U.N. sanctions prompted by the communist nation's nuclear test, but they found nothing illegal so far, officials said Thursday.
It was the first time a country was known to have stopped a North Korean vessel under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718 authorizing searches as part of the sanctions imposed on Pyongyang for its nuclear test.
Since the resolution was passed Oct. 14, at least four other North Korean vessels have been stopped, but the countries involved did not say it was because of the sanctions regime. The resolution is aimed at keeping North Korea from importing or exporting nuclear equipment or technology.
The inspection by France began Saturday while the ship was docked at the island of Mayotte.
A customs official in charge of maritime inspections on Mayotte said the 500-foot-long Am Nok Gang, with 45 crew members, had been searched "from bow to stern and top to bottom." The inspectors found a slight excess of alcohol and cigarettes but "nothing really illegal, in terms of weapons or drugs," said the official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media about the inspection.
He said the ship was heading from Singapore to the Comores Islands, also in the Indian Ocean, with a stop in Mayotte. The ship was transporting cement.
The inspection is "going very well" and the North Korean crew "are very nice," he said.
Customs and police officers first inspected the vessel at sea when it arrived in Mayotte's waters last weekend, he added. It was only the second North Korean boat in five years to dock in Mayotte, he said.
A French diplomat said the inspection started with a routine identity check Saturday. Inspectors decided to unload all the merchandise, and will continue checking the ship through the weekend, he said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
He said the inspection was slowed because the port on Mayotte is so small that the ship had to clear out several times to make way for other vessels carrying perishable cargo.
The Mayotte customs official said some of the ship's load of cement was destined for use on the island, with the rest going to the Comores.
"The customs administration is currently proceeding with a complete and thorough inspection of merchandise and personnel on a North Korean ship on a stopover in Mayotte," Foreign Ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei said.
Mayotte is a French-administered island between the east coast of Africa and Madagascar.
"We are exercising particular vigilance regarding cargo transported by North Korean ships, and all ships starting from or heading to North Korea," Mattei said.
In other searches, Hong Kong authorities detained two North Korean cargo ships in October for safety violations apparently unrelated to the U.N. sanctions.
Myanmar permitted a North Korean cargo ship in distress to anchor at a port in early November but said it found no cargo violating U.N. sanctions during an inspection of the vessel.
Indian investigators questioned crew members of a North Korean ship bound for Iran that strayed into Indian waters. The vessel MV-Omrani carried no cargo and had 12 crew members on board when it was found in Indian waters on Oct. 29 after it developed a mechanical problem and was escorted into Mumbai harbor, Indian officials said.
A U.S. Navy official said the United States has not searched any North Korean vessels.
The announcement of the search by France came as President Bush warned North Korea against transferring nuclear weapons or material to other countries, saying such an act would be considered a "grave threat" to the United States.
South Korea balked this week at fully joining the U.S.-led effort to intercept North Korean ships. Countries in the initiative can only conduct searches within the territorial waters of participating countries, since ships on the high seas have right of free passage under international law.
After the nuclear test, France took immediate measures limiting visas for North Koreans and canceled all bilateral contacts in October and November, Mattei said.
HEY Ernest we goofing on France this morning about this ship can you say maybe check didn't clear from Chia Pet that reason why the French drop the dime on him LOL!
I was going to ask how long before France surrenders but after last Tuesday we cant say that so easy anymore.
That will teach the Chia pet...
Got a link to the thread....drop it here if you would please...
If there were any radiation signs of nuclear material, the French would never have searched the vessel.
Yeah, but who's got an eye on the French "inspectors?"
Thanks....
All North Korea has to export is Ronery.
Oh, and Nukes.
but Pierre, don't let that detract you from your baguette and Gaoloise.[/sarcasm]
"Are all your plutonium properly secured? Yes? Mon Dieu! Is that styrofoam packing material that was manufactured with ozone-depleting CFCs? Oh, I see. Very good then. Carry on."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.