Japan Inspect N.K Vessel ManKyungbong

The only cargo passenger vessel going between North Korea and Japan Mankyungbong No.92 entered Japan`s Niigata port in seven months despite severe resistance by families of Japanese abductees and victims of North Korean abductors on August 25th.

Japanese National Transportation Ministry and Sea Security Agency conducted a safety investigation to intensely review whether the vessel complies with international standards of ship structure and facilities, as it comes into the port in the morning.

However, as the Japanese Vice Premier Hukukawa Mohohisa announced that the ship had no anomalies in the afternoon, it would soon leave the port with the Pro-North Korean Residents in Japan, Chochongnyon college students and other 200 passengers and cargoes on August 26th.

On this day, some 200 families and victims of those who were abducted by North Korean spies and related civil organizations demonstrated against the ship`s entrance into the port crying out, “Go back to your country”.

Chochongnyon, on the contrary, had some 200 of its members welcome the ship with welcoming placards. But thanks to preventive measures by Japanese police, any conflict did not happen between the two groups.

Right-wing members coming from all around the country in Japan tried to enter the port with 105 vehicles rolling, but demonstrated on the streets of Niigata after being blocked by the police.

parkwj@donga.com