North Korean Ship Detained at India's Port Blair for Unrecorded Trips between North Korea and China

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Indian Ocean are a set of very interesting little land masses. One of them, where the capital Port Blair is situated, used to serve as a deadly prison for India's political inmates; it was said that they would never return once incarcerated in the 'Black Waters.'

Because of the islands' strategic location in the Indian Ocean, East of India, they have always formed a strategic naval base for India and for many years tourists were not allowed.

I spent an interesting summer there when my uncle Harmander Singh was Chief Commissioner.

At Port Blair, a North Korean ship, the MV Mu San, has been detained, according to the Times of India,

'for unauthorised anchoring off the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Wednesday, (it) had made several voyages between North Korea and China without maintaining proper records, investigators have found...

Meanwhile, the interrogation of the ship's captain, Yon Jung Sun, and 38 crew members is proving to be a daunting task as there is only one member who speaks a little English. Arrangements are being made to bring in an interpreter. A special team of officials from the Research & Analysis Wing and Army intelligence, which will visit Port Blair in a couple of days to interrogate the crew. North Korea, now facing sanctions for building nuclear arms, has been a beneficiary of Chinese materials and research.'

In the past, some North Korean vessels have been found to be carrying fissile material.

RAW handles external intelligence matters for India.