Likely Destination of N Korean Ship Often Used for Weapons Deliveries
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Burma

Likely Destination of N Korean Ship Often Used for Weapons Deliveries


By MIN LWIN Thursday, June 25, 2009


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The Myanmar International Terminals Thilawa (MITT), believed to be the destination of the Kang Nam 1, a North Korean cargo ship being tracked by the US Navy, has often been used for deliveries of weapons, according to sources at the facility.

The Kang Nam 1, which left a North Korean port on June 17, is believed to be carrying weapons, missile parts or possibly even nuclear materials.

Cargo ships are docked at Myanmar International Terminals Thilawa (MITT) deep sea port near Rangoon. (Photo: AP)
“There are two reasons to use Thilawa,” said an MITT operator. “First, it is not too close to Rangoon, and second, it is easy to increase security here so people don’t know what is being unloaded.”

The international multi-purpose container port, Burma’s largest deep sea port, is located about 30 km south of Rangoon.

According to other MITT employees, the facility has often been used for deliveries of weapons since it was built in the mid-1990s.

“Cargo ships carrying many kinds of weapons from Russia, China, North Korea and the Ukraine have docked at Thilawa,” said an MITT worker.

Normally, the source explained, the ships are offloaded around midnight to avoid attracting attention. Then, around 2 a.m., convoys of trucks deliver the weapons to a military depot at Intaing, about 25 km north of Rangoon.

“When cargo ships carrying military equipment dock at the port, naval personnel based near Thilawa take over port security and coordinate the unloading of the ships,” he said. “No unauthorized personnel are allowed near the port when cargo ships carrying weapons dock here.”

On Wednesday, officials from the Myanmar Port Authority, which operates under the Ministry of Transport, met with the Thilawa port authorities. It is believed that the meeting was related to the imminent arrival of the Kang Nam 1.

“We don’t know when the ship will dock and we haven’t received any instructions concerning its berthing schedule,” said an MITT employee, adding that this was normal procedure for handling ships carrying weapons.

The source also said that employees of MITT had been instructed not to speak to exiled media about the Kang Nam 1.

On Thursday, the Burmese state-run newspaper, The News Light of Myanmar, reported that the government had denied that the Kang Nam 1 was heading for Burma.

The report said that the Burmese junta had not received any information about the Kang Nam 1, but was expecting another North Korean ship, the MV Dumangang, to arrive in Burma on June 27 to pick up 8,000 tons of rice.

The USS John S McCain started following the Kang Nam 1 soon after it left port last week. The USS McCampbell is now shadowing the ship, which is being monitored under UN sanctions imposed earlier this month following North Korea’s underground nuclear test in May.

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Peter Hunt Wrote:
29/06/2009
Jinghpaw:
You are absolutely right.
Freedom (of speech, writing, expressions) are not free or gifts in Burma. You will have to fight to get it. One way or another. Stop wasting time on other non-effective ways. Everybody should have realized now that no foreign countries will fight for you. Burmese people have to fight the repressive regime. That's the way it works in Asia. Wake up, men! Get united. Form organized forces. You will get the support (financial, arms, etc) you would need. If you don't get united or show forces, no body will provide you support. The UN, US, UK, France or the EU have no way to interfere or bring down the regime at this time or in the future. They just can play the games as usual. Obama has no guts or interest in Burma. Good luck! It all depends on the Burmese people.

Ken Doutch Wrote:
28/06/2009
Why would they export 8000 tons of rice, for God's sake, when it is in so short supply?
The rats don't realize we can smell a rat here. If the UN ever need a reason to expose the junta, surely they would have the backbone to pick this one up.

Jeg Wrote:
26/06/2009
The Kang Nam delivers and the MC Dumangang collects payment in golden-rice. Has Burma got submarines that could pick up the cargo from the bottom of the sea, dropped at night time when the Kang cannot be detected by the US monitor?

WW Wrote:
26/06/2009
Don't let yourselves be bullied by the lying junta. This is an opportunity to unmask the junta, China, Russia and North Korea and make them adhere to UN directives .


maungnaylin [California] Wrote:
26/06/2009
Why can't the US ship fire on the North Korean ship Kang Nam 1, instead of just following?

Don't they know they are just wasting money on their gasoline?


Jinghpaw Wrote:
25/06/2009
Come on, non-violence democracy supporters, raid that ship and use those weapons to form Bamar democratic armed forces. You will never get democracy in Burma with non-violent means.


Moe Aung Wrote:
25/06/2009
It looks like N Korea stepped into the breach when China was no longer happy to provide the weapons the junta wanted, most likely in preparation to quell another popular uprising, this time possibly nationwide and also likely to include an army rebellion.

The death knell for the junta will sound when these weapons fall into the hands of army dissenters. Political work on the army rank and file must continue in earnest. The people will win through.

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