Hyundai Containership Collides With N.K. Ship

A Hyundai Merchant Marine containership, the Duke, collided with a North Korean ship, the Manpoho, in the Indian Ocean, 480 miles east of Colombo, at 8:20 p.m.(Korean time) on March 31.
The collision resulted in the sinking of the Manpoho which was transporting materials used for cement production. Only 2 of a crew of 39 on board were rescued on the spot and the rest are still missing.
It is confirmed that the Duke was partly damaged on its left bow and that no lives have been lost.
It is the first time that a South Korean ship has collided with a ship from North Korea in the open sea.
An official from Hyundai Merchant Marine stated that the accident occurred between Sri Lanka and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. He added that the Duke immediately signalled India's Ocean Rescue Center after the mishap, and that as soon as the Indian rescue ship, the Veri Tas, arrives, it will assist in looking for the missing crew members together with the Duke.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade along with the Ministry of Unification stated, 'They are now investigating the precise cause of the accident.'
Jangsoo Seo;jsbee@Joongang.co.kr