Belmonte allays fears on seizure of Nokor ship

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.   INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON

MANILA’S impounding of a suspected North Korean cargo ship to enforce United Nations sanctions is “too minor an incident” to merit concern that the hermit state might train missiles on the Philippines, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said Sunday.

Belmonte spoke after Sen. Gregorio Honasan, an opposition vice presidential candidate, said the government should make sure it could handle the consequences of its decision to seize the MV Jin Teng as the 4,355-ton general cargo ship docked at Subic port in Zambales province on Thursday night.

The MV Jin Teng is among 31 vessels that could be forced to stop trading after being included in an asset freeze against a North Korean shipping company under the tightened sanctions passed unanimously by the UN Security Council on Wednesday in response to North Korea’s

Jan. 6 nuclear test and recent ballistic missile test.

The Philippine Coast Guard impounded the MV Jin Teng on Saturday after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) ordered the vessel held in line with the UN Security Council sanctions order.

“If North Korea reacts to this, can our allies help us?” Honasan, who was campaigning in San Simon, Pampanga province, said in an interview.

He asked if the government’s foreign or security policy allowed it to seize the ship.

“In fairness to the Palace, we enforced [the UN sanctions]. But let’s project this forward. Suppose this is turned into an issue by North Korea?” he said.

Belmonte said he did not believe North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would direct any aggressive action toward the Philippines.

“[I]f it’s to follow UN sanctions, we have to comply,” Belmonte said. “North Korea will take the peaceful route.”

Response to sanctions

North Korea responded to the passage of the new round of UN sanctions by firing six short-range missiles into the sea on Thursday.

Kim also ordered the country’s nuclear arsenal put on standby for preemptive use at any time.

North Korean state media blasted the new sanctions again on Saturday, calling the UN resolution a “disgrace.”

“It is a disgrace to the world community to allow such high-handed practice of the [United States] and other big powers possessed of many satellites and nuclear warheads,” read a statement published by the North’s official KCNA news agency.

The MV Jin Teng arrived in Subic from Palembang, Indonesia, on Thursday with a crew of 21 and a cargo of palm kernel expeller, which could be used in making farm animal feed.

The Coast Guard had inspected the vessel twice, but no contraband was found.

But the inspectors spotted minor deficiencies, including missing fire hoses, a corroded air vent and electrical switches without insulation.

Tight watch

On Sunday, the Coast Guard said it was closely watching the vessel and its crew as Philippine officials waited for a response from the United Nations to come to the Philippines to inspect the ship.

“We will probably keep it in Subic pending our request for guidance on its disposition,” said Cmdr. Armand Balilo, spokesperson for the Coast Guard.

The ship’s 21 North Korean crew members remain onboard but are otherwise not restricted, Balilo said.

“They are just on the ship. They are remaining there. They have provisions of their own. They won’t try to escape,” he said, adding there was no need to provide them with any supplies yet.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Manuel L. Quezon III said on Saturday that the vessel’s crew would be deported, but there had been no confirmation when the deportation would take place.

The ship’s ownership appears to be in question.

Coast Guard’s Cmdr. Raul Belesario said on Saturday that the ship’s papers showed that it was a Sierra Leone-flagged vessel owned by a company based in the British Virgin Islands and managed by a firm in China’s Shandong province.

“On paper, it’s not North Korean,” Belesario said.

Flag of convenience?

Assistant Foreign Secretary Gary Domingo said it could be checked if the MV Jin Teng was using a “flag of convenience” to hide its true owner, adding that Philippine officials would meet soon to determine what to do next with the ship in coordination with the United Nations.

The impounding of the MV Jin Teng was the first reported case of the new UN sanctions against North Korea being enforced.

The latest sanctions include mandatory inspections of cargo leaving and entering North Korea by sea or air, a ban on all sales or transfer of small arms and light weapons to Pyongyang, and the expulsion of diplomats from the North who engage in “illicit activities.” With reports from the wires