Philippines to impound freighter, deport crew to NKorea

By Roy Ramos & Hader Glang

ZAMBOANGA CITY, the Philippines

A Philippine presidential spokesperson announced Saturday that authorities would comply with recently toughened United Nations sanctions against North Korea by impounding a cargo ship said to be from the country.

Manuel Quezon III told local radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan that North Korean vessels such as the Jin Teng – which was blocked Friday from leaving Subic Bay in Olongapo City – are subject to asset freezes by UN member states.

Quoting an updated Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) report, he said that the vessel’s crew would be deported to North Korea.

"So what happened was the UNIO [United Nations and other International Organizations] office of DFA coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard," he added.

"Now, according to this clarification from the New York permanent mission of the Philippines, an asset freeze is required to basically impound the ship."

Quezon said that a team from the UN might inspect the 6,830-ton freighter and the Philippine government would report to the UN.

"We all know the entire world is worried with what is happening in North Korea because of its nuclear weapons program and the country's development of intercontinental ballistic missiles, and because of this the United Nations Security Council imposed the sanctions," he underlined.

The Jin Teng had become one of the first ships falling under sanctions on North Korea to enter a foreign port since the UN passed tightened measures Wednesday after Pyongyang’s recent nuclear test and missile launch.

The Philippine Coast Guard said Friday that the vessel, found to be carrying palm kernels, had violated several safety standards.

ABS CBN had quoted Deputy Commandant Athelo Ybanez saying that these included a lack of fire hoses, broken emergency light bulbs, air ventilation parts, and electrical switches.

On Wednesday, the Security Council unanimously approved the toughest sanctions on North Korea in two decades following Pyongyang's tests.

The resolution came after weeks of negotiations between the U.S. and China, North Korea’s closest ally and largest trading partner.

The sanctions impose inspections on all cargo entering and leaving the country, ban the transfer or sale of weapons and add 16 new individuals and 12 organizations to a blacklist.

North Korean diplomats who engage in illicit activities will be expelled.