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Update: North Korean CG Boards Russian Vessel

Published Sep 27, 2013 10:19 AM by The Maritime Executive

Monday September 23rd:

A representative of the Russian Border Guard Department for the Primorye Territory of the Federal Security Service confirmed North Korean Coast Guard did board the ALTAI, a crabbing boat in the East Sea/Sea of Japan. He said that light signal rockets were fired in the air, which was accompanied by clapping sounds. It was dark when everything happened. The crew said that shots were fired.

Alexander Savelyey, head of PR for Russia’s Fisheries Agency (Rosrybolovstvo) also said the ALTAI’s captain said the North Koreans came aboard and asked where the vessel was going and what cargoes were being transported and how many where abroad. After ten minutes or so the disembarked. The event, however, did occur in international waters, which raises concerns over future boardings by North Korea's military. The North Korean military previously held Russian ships in several incidents since 2005.

Saturday September 21st:

A representative of the Russian Border Guard Department for the Primorye Territory of the Federal Security Service confirmed North Korean Coast Guard did board the ALTAI, a crabbing boat in the East Sea/Sea of Japan. He said that light signal rockets were fired in the air, which was accompanied by clapping sounds. It was dark when everything happened. The crew said that shots were fired.

 

Alexander Savelyey, head of PR for Russia’s Fisheries Agency (Rosrybolovstvo) also said the ALTAI’s captain said the North Koreans came aboard and asked where the vessel was going and what cargoes were being transported and how many where abroad. After ten minutes or so the disembarked. 

North Korean Coast Guard fired on a Russian fishing vessel in the East Sea/Sea of Japan. The ALTAI, a 1,075 ton crabbing boat, was fired on by a North Koreans as it sailed from Zarubino, Russia in route to South Korean. The fishing boat captain said the North Koreans sent a flare up and fired using automatic weapons at their vessel around 1:30am. He said they did not radio or send visible warning to his ship.

The Russian captain said the North Koreans boarded his vessel and searched it for about ten minutes. They were wearing coast guard uniforms and they questioned the captain aboard the Altai and forcibly searched it for around ten minutes and then left.