Posted on 02/24/2008 10:41:46 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Feb 24 2008 10:50AM
No news about Russian crew detained by N. Korean coastguards - spokesman
VLADIVOSTOK. Feb 24 (Interfax-Far East) - No information is available about the crew of the Russian ship, the Lidia Demesh, detained on Saturday by North Korean coastguards.
"The 25-member crew are under arrest. They have no access to the radio set and they did not go on the air," Vladimir Sviridov, spokesman for the Vladivostok Rescue Coordinating center, told Interfax on Sunday.
"No information is available about the crew, because it is a day off and the North Korean Consulate General in Nakhodka is closed. It is not known, either, at which port they are now," he said.
Earlier reports said that the Lidia Demesh, carrying used cars from Japan to Vladivostok, was detained by North Korean coastguards in the Sea of Japan on February 23.
The crew informed the Vladivostok Rescue Coordinating Center by radio on Saturday morning that the ship had been stopped by North Korean coastguards off Cape Musudan, Center spokesman Vladimir Yeroshkin told Interfax.
"The ship was boarded by an armed group and the crew was ordered to move to a port in North Korea," Yeroshkin said.
The incident was reported to the Russian Foreign Ministry official in Vladivostok and to the Russian border service, he said.
In December 2005, North Korean coastguards stopped the Ternei, a Vladivostok ship, which was seeking shelter from a storm near the North Korean coast. The captain informed the local border service of the ship's entry into the North Korean territorial waters and was given the go-ahead. But the ship was later detained.
Mass media reported then, that the Russian ship's location near North Korea's restricted missile testing site was the reason for the detention.
The Ternei was released following two weeks of diplomatic talks. sd
Ping!
Sure they are.
N.Korea bars Russia diplomat from meeting with arrested ship crew
15:34 | 24/ 02/ 2008
MOSCOW, February 24 (RIA Novosti) - The North Korean authorities barred on Sunday a top Russian diplomat from meeting with the crew of a Russian ship arrested in the Sea of Japan for allegedly violating the North Korean border.
The Russian Lidiya Demesh vessel was carrying a batch of cars from the Japanese port of Hamata to Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East, when a North Korean border guard vessel stopped it near Cape Musudan, three to five miles from North Korea’s shores, on Saturday morning.
“I intended to go there [to meet with the crew] but was not allowed on the grounds that the investigation is not yet over,” Valery Valkovich, Russia’s general consul in Chongjin, said over the phone.
The diplomat said there were 25 crewmembers aboard the ship who were safe and expressed the hope that the vessel would soon be released.
Another Russian vessel was arrested by the North Korean Coast Guard Service near Cape Musudan in December 2005. The Ternei ship was caught in a storm on its way from South Korea to Vladivostok. The captain decided to seek shelter in the North Korean territorial waters in line with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), and informed North Korea of his intention.
However, the Ternei was later on arrested for border violation by North Korean border guards. The Russian ship was convoyed to the port of Kimch’aek and released two weeks later through the mediation of Russian diplomats.
does “Lidia Demesh” translate in english to “Pueblo”?
Russia’s USS Pueblo?
The U.S. should use this occassion to back Russia and smooth over some ruffled feathers caused by the idiotic Kosovo recognition. (We should also recant that recognition, but that will never happen with sparky in there.) The U.S. has failed to capitalize on chances to grow closer to Russia and it’s going to cost us if we don’t get our act together.
This is also a chance to take North Korea down a notch or two, wich may help us in the future to end it’s nuclear capabilities.
Russia will not put up with this sort of thing. Putin may put an end to North Korea as a promlem for us and the world. They would be foolish to poke the bear in the eye with a stick.
Detained or delivering a ‘candy gram’?
does “Lidia Demesh” translate in english to “Pueblo”?
No.
It means Missile Delivery.
I agree. Putin has been putting his “virility” on display for the world - especially for the Russian people. He won’t be docile in his diplomacy.
I think Putin will react differently than we did. His plans for the re-establishment of the Soviet Bear will not allow him to seem weak.
That crazy little asshat leader Korea has is in for it now.
We need a “Speak softly but carry a big stick diplomacy” in this country again.
From whay I have heard of the Russian Army in recent years, the NKs would probably beat the snot out of them.
Sorry, we're closed!
So far NO Update on Russia crew
Putin will have to do something, after all his posturing and posing with his shirt off. Too bad both countries can’t lose.
Nah, this was a cover for a sale of nuclear technology to NK. Weapons tech, surely.
I'll give 20 to 1 odds that those cars don't leave North Korea on a Russian ship.
I am sure that our satellites have already tracked the exact location of this ship. I’d bet that the Russians already have high resolution pictures of the whole situation step by step, and hour by hour. We will provide negative data about the North Koreans instantly to the Russians every time. They also know that it is not in their best interests for North Korea to think they are too powerful. If I were them I would be telling the little runt that runs the place that they either turn the ship and crew loose or they will sink every North Korean ship they can find world wide. The US would not stop this effort. North Korea will let this ship go after a few days but the Russians will not forget this incident.
does “Lidia Demesh” translate in english to “Pueblo”
“It means Missile Delivery.”
Unfortunately, I think this is the most probable reason for the “provocation”.
No kiddin... They were after the cars.
What baffles me about Russia, is that it has problems with these groups and still seems to back their nuclear intentions.
Iran will provide nukes to terrorists. Russia blindly continues to support the developement of them. Good grief. Are Russians as a rule that ignorant?
I don’t expect Russia to back our play all the time, but some things are just plain suicidal. Backing China, a nation that seems intent on occupying Russia’s East as Mexico seems intent on occupying our southwest, it just seems so self-destructive.
BTW, I agree with your comments. SAT
The piece says she was carrying cars. You’re not buying it?
Agreed. In full.
Interesting development, doncha think?
Thank you.
Very interesting.
Putin and Jintao have problems with Kim John Il.
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