March 5, 2016
By Andreo Calonzo
Manila — The Philippines (click here) is holding a North Korean-controlled cargo vessel for inspection days after the U.N. Security Council passed a new round of sanctions to punish the government in Pyongyang for a fourth nuclear test and a rocket launch.
The decision to stop the Jin Teng from leaving the Subic port, north of Manila, will be reported to the UN, which may send a team to inspect the 6,830-ton ship, Communications Undersecretary Manolo Quezon said Saturday. Quezon said the crew will be deported in accordance with the new security council resolution, which requires inspection of all cargo entering or leaving North Korea.
“As a member of the UN, we have an obligation to implement the sanctions,” Quezon said. Under the UN resolution, North Korean assets are subject to a freeze by UN member states and this means that authorities must impound the ship, Quezon said. The Philippine coast guard had inspected the ship on Friday and said it tested negative for weapons of mass destruction.
The Philippines’ action marks the first case of UN sanctions being enforced against North Korean ships since the security council unanimously passed the resolution on Wednesday, which lists 31 vessels as “economic resources controlled or operated” by a North Korean firm....
The dates of this particular warning is irrelevant. This is the chaos and real danger people and commerce are exposed to by the rocket tests alone.
By Andreo Calonzo
Manila — The Philippines (click here) is holding a North Korean-controlled cargo vessel for inspection days after the U.N. Security Council passed a new round of sanctions to punish the government in Pyongyang for a fourth nuclear test and a rocket launch.
The decision to stop the Jin Teng from leaving the Subic port, north of Manila, will be reported to the UN, which may send a team to inspect the 6,830-ton ship, Communications Undersecretary Manolo Quezon said Saturday. Quezon said the crew will be deported in accordance with the new security council resolution, which requires inspection of all cargo entering or leaving North Korea.
“As a member of the UN, we have an obligation to implement the sanctions,” Quezon said. Under the UN resolution, North Korean assets are subject to a freeze by UN member states and this means that authorities must impound the ship, Quezon said. The Philippine coast guard had inspected the ship on Friday and said it tested negative for weapons of mass destruction.
The Philippines’ action marks the first case of UN sanctions being enforced against North Korean ships since the security council unanimously passed the resolution on Wednesday, which lists 31 vessels as “economic resources controlled or operated” by a North Korean firm....
The dates of this particular warning is irrelevant. This is the chaos and real danger people and commerce are exposed to by the rocket tests alone.
The Philippines (click here) is announcing precautions for airlines and ships to avoid falling debris from North Korea's expected rocket launch, due in the next few days. North Korean officials say the first stage will fall into the sea about 160 kilometers from the Philippines, but past North Korean launches have been notoriously inaccurate.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is rerouting some flights in anticipation of the launch that North Korea says will put a weather satellite in orbit.
Defense leaders from several governments estimate that debris from the three-stage launch could fall to earth along the rocket's southern trajectory.
Aviation Authority Spokeswoman Joy Songsong says planes will not be allowed to pass through three lanes in the skies northeast of the country from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. from April 12 - 16.
"Part of the approximately 20 flights that will be affected daily would be international flights using the Philippine airways to get to their destinations," Songsong said....
