Coast Guard, Navy conduct interdiction drill on suspected ship

South Korea's Coast Guard and Navy successfully conducted an exercise off the southern port of Busan on Wednesday that checked their ability to intercept a North Korea-bound vessel loaded with banned cargo.

The simulation drill was planned to effectively implement sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council and the South Korean government, following the North's fourth nuclear tests and long-range missile launch.

The UN sanctions include the mandatory inspection of all cargo going in and out of the North.

Ten vessels from the Coast Guard and the Navy, aided by four helicopters, conducted an interdiction operation besieging the suspected foreign cargo ship.

Named "Ocean Rich," the suspected ship was bound for North Korea's Nampo port. There were no reports at the time of departure that the vessel coming from a foreign port was carrying contraband, but the South Korean diplomatic mission at the port of departure received word that the vessel was suspected of concealing small weapons and strategic materials in the ship's hold and bridge.

As the exercise progressed and the Ocean Rich defied the halt order, armed law enforcement and naval commandos took control of the ship by suppressing the crew.

Upon inspection the boarding team found parts and components necessary for the manufacture of nuclear missiles and escorted the Ocean Rich to Busan.

Hong Ik-tae, chief of the Korea Coast Guard safety center, said the maritime agency plans to inspect and keep track of suspected vessels that may have banned cargo aboard. It said full use will be made of ship monitoring systems along the country's coast and share information gathered with the Navy and other organizations. (Yonhap)