North Korea seized a Russian ship with sailors
On July 17, 2019 at 4:00 a.m., the DPRK border guards seized the Russian seiner Xianghailin-8 (owned by Northeast Fishing Company LLC) with 17 crew members, of which 2 were South Korean citizens. This happened in the Sea of Japan, 55 miles from the territory of the DPRK, after which the vessel with the fishermen was escorted to Wonsan.
Details of the incident were reported to Kommersant newspaper by the deputy director of the Russian company Sergey Sedler. He said that representatives of the North Korean authorities landed aboard the fishing vessel “right on the go,” after which they disconnected all communications on the seiner. However, the shipowning company was able to track the location of the vessel via satellite.
Sedler said that the company now has no connection with the fishermen, but on July 23, 2019, a representative of the Russian embassy in the DPRK managed to meet with the crew of the vessel. As it turned out, the crew was divided: the captain, his assistant and two South Korean citizens (specialists-adjusters) were accommodated in a hotel (hotel), and the remaining crew members were in their cabins on the ship.
Sedler added that the fishermen on board are not even allowed to go on deck. At the same time, there is no ventilation on the vessel, and the temperature reaches +35 degrees. When the trial begins - it is unknown, the water and provisions on the ship end.
- said Sedler.
Sedler stressed that all information comes from a representative of the Russian embassy in the DPRK. There are no other communication sources.
- said Sedler.
Sedler noted that the shipowning company did routing and made sure that the seiner was following the normal route and did not break anything.
- reminded Sedler.
According to the representative of the shipowning company, the vessel produces crab in the Primorye subzone, then goes to the port of Zarubino, where, after all the formalities, it carries cargo to the port of Sokcho (South Korea), passing the area where the detention took place along the way. Sokcho is located in the north-eastern part of Gangwon Province, ferries with Russian tourists also come there from Zarubino.
Details of the incident were reported to Kommersant newspaper by the deputy director of the Russian company Sergey Sedler. He said that representatives of the North Korean authorities landed aboard the fishing vessel “right on the go,” after which they disconnected all communications on the seiner. However, the shipowning company was able to track the location of the vessel via satellite.
Sedler said that the company now has no connection with the fishermen, but on July 23, 2019, a representative of the Russian embassy in the DPRK managed to meet with the crew of the vessel. As it turned out, the crew was divided: the captain, his assistant and two South Korean citizens (specialists-adjusters) were accommodated in a hotel (hotel), and the remaining crew members were in their cabins on the ship.
Sedler added that the fishermen on board are not even allowed to go on deck. At the same time, there is no ventilation on the vessel, and the temperature reaches +35 degrees. When the trial begins - it is unknown, the water and provisions on the ship end.
We learned this from the consul of the diplomatic mission in Pyongyang Mamaev, who managed to visit the ship
- said Sedler.
Sedler stressed that all information comes from a representative of the Russian embassy in the DPRK. There are no other communication sources.
To ensure safe parking of the vessel, the shift should be kept around the clock. And the DPRK border guards paralyzed the work, the ship's security was in jeopardy
- said Sedler.
Sedler noted that the shipowning company did routing and made sure that the seiner was following the normal route and did not break anything.
There are 12 mile territorial waters of the state. The DPRK has established a military security zone with an additional 50 miles. This is a zone of the water area where ships of the Russian Federation and other countries move freely
- reminded Sedler.
According to the representative of the shipowning company, the vessel produces crab in the Primorye subzone, then goes to the port of Zarubino, where, after all the formalities, it carries cargo to the port of Sokcho (South Korea), passing the area where the detention took place along the way. Sokcho is located in the north-eastern part of Gangwon Province, ferries with Russian tourists also come there from Zarubino.
Information