View source for Man Gyong Bong 92

{{Short description|1992–2013 North Korean ferry}}
{{Redirect|Mangyongbong|the sports club|Mangyongbong Sports Club}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin |infobox caption=''Man Gyong Bong 92''| display title = ital}} <!-- commercial vessels --><!-- caption: yes, nodab, or <caption text> -->
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= Mangyongbong-92.jpg
|Ship caption= ''Man Gyong Bong 92'' at [[Wonsan]] in 2010
}}
{{Infobox Korean name
| child=yes
|context=north
|hangul=만경봉 92호
|hanja=萬景峰 92號
|rr=Man-gyeongbong 92(gusibi)-ho
|mr=Man'gyŏngbong kusibi ho}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship name= ''Man Gyong Bong 92''
|Ship owner=Daizin Shipping Co. 
|Ship operator=
|Ship registry=[[Wonsan]], {{flag|North Korea}}
|Ship route= [[Wonsan]]-[[Niigata, Niigata|Niigata]] (until 2006), [[Rason]]-[[Mount Kumgang]] (2011)
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=Chongjin Shipyard
|Ship original cost=
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|Ship laid down=
|Ship launched= 1992
|Ship completed=
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|Ship acquired=
|Ship maiden voyage=
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=2013
|Ship identification=*[[Maritime call sign|Call sign]]: HMZL
*{{IMO Number|8890580}}
*{{MMSI Number|445101000}}<ref name="mari_MANG">{{Cite web | title = MAN GYONG BONG 92 - Ro-Ro/Passenger Ship | author =  | work = Marinetraffic.com | date =  | accessdate = April 24, 2015 | url = http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/details/ships/8890580}}</ref>
|Ship fate=
|Ship status=Laid-up, anchored in Wonsan
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=
|Ship type=[[Ro-Ro]]/passenger ship<ref name="mari_MANG"/>
|Ship tonnage=*{{GT|9672}}<ref name="mari_MANG"/>
*{{DWT|2014}}<ref name="mari_MANG"/>
|Ship displacement=
|Ship length= {{cvt|126.1|m|ftin}}
|Ship beam= {{cvt|20.5|m|ftin}}
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|Ship speed= {{convert|23|kn}}
|Ship capacity= 350 passengers<ref name="reuters2"/> and 1,000 tons of cargo
|Ship crew=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
'''''Man Gyong Bong 92''''' is a cargo-passenger [[ferry]], named after a hill near [[Pyongyang]]. The ferry was built in 1992 with funds from [[Chongryon]], the pro-North Korean General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, and was used to transport passengers and cargo between [[North Korea]] and [[Japan]].<ref name="ref1">{{cite journal|last=Shipper |first=Apichai W. |title=Nationalisms of and against Zainichi Koreans in Japan |journal=Asian Politics & Policy |publisher=The Washington Times |date=2010|volume=2 |pages=55–75 |doi=10.1111/j.1943-0787.2009.01167.x }}</ref> These voyages continued until 2006 when Japan banned North Korean ships from its waters.<ref name="ref2">{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2006/oct/16/20061016-122859-4745r/ |title=Ferry ban turns tide on Korean smuggling |publisher=The Washington Times |date=2006-10-16 |accessdate=2015-04-15}}</ref> In 2011 the ship trialed a route between [[Rason]] and [[Mount Kumgang]]. In 2018, the ship carried a 140 person delegation, as well as an art troupe, for the [[2018 Winter Olympics]] and docked in [[Mukho]] port.

==Background==
[[File:Mangyongbong-92 20080613.jpg|thumb|School children pass ''Man Gyong Bong 92'' in North Korea.]]
The first ''Man Gyong Bong'' ship had its maiden voyage in September 1971,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.koreaworldtimes.com/topics/news/9963/|script-title=ja:あの万景峰号は今どこに？ 在日朝鮮人との関わり深い北朝鮮の貨客船|newspaper=KoreaWorldTimes |date=2021-08-31|language=ja|access-date=2021-09-22}}</ref> amidst Japan’s easing restrictions on visits to North Korea by [[Zainichi Korean]]s. It was used to transport people between North Korea and Japan until it was replaced by the ''Man Gyong Bong 92'' in 1992.<ref name="ref3">{{Cite web | url=http://japanfocus.org/-Tessa-Morris_Suzuki/3241 | title=The Forgotten Japanese in North Korea: Beyond the Politics of Abduction &#124; the Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus}}</ref> The ''Man Gyong Bong 92'' was constructed using a donation of 4 billion yen (approximately US $32 million) from the Japanese-based [[Chongryon]] (General Association of Korean Residents in Japan). The organisation gave the money to North Korea as a gift for [[Kim Il-sung]]’s 80th birthday in 1992.<ref name="ref1" />

The ferry could carry 200 passengers and 1,000 tons of cargo. Before Japan banned all North Korean vessels from its waters in 2006, it made about one to two round trips per month between the [[Niigata City|Port of Niigata]], [[Japan]] and [[Wonsan]], North Korea, with a one-way trip lasting about 28 hours.<ref name="ref1" /> Most of the passengers were North Korean [[Koreans in Japan|zainichi]] visiting relatives or students of a Chongryon school on a study trip. Cargo shipped from Japan was typically electronics, medical devices, and foreign-made manufactured goods.<ref name="ref1" /> In August 1993, a first-class ticket on the ''Man Gyong Bong 92'' would cost about US $1,500 each.<ref name="ref4">"Food Riots spreading, Travellers report: FINAL Edition." The Vancouver Sun: A.8. 1993.</ref>

==Controversy with Japan==
In September 2002, the [[North Korean abductions of Japanese citizens|North Korean government admitted to abducting several Japanese citizens]] throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s.<ref name="ref5">{{Cite web | url=http://www.ncnk.org/resources/publications/CRS_Chosen_Soren_2003_RL32137.pdf | title=North Korean Supporters in Japan: Issues for U.S. Policy| date=2009-07-09}}</ref> This admission caused people to believe the first ''Man Gyong Bong'', operating since 1971, was used to transport these abductees to North Korea.<ref name="ref6">"Sailing Across A Sea Of Trouble." J@Pan Inc 48 (2003): 6-7. Business Source Complete. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.</ref> This assumption sparked further suspicion surrounding the ferry’s successor, the ''Man Gyong Bong 92'', that was still in operation.<ref name="ref7">{{cite news|last=Buckley |first=Sarah |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2958968.stm |title=N Korea ferry struggling against the tide |publisher=BBC News |date=2003-06-09 |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref>

The main allegation against the ''Man Gyong Bong 92'' was that it allowed the smuggling of illegal items to and from Japan. Specifically, it was believed that drugs and weapons were being smuggled into Japan, and cash, missile parts, and other potentially dangerous technology were secretly being taken to North Korea.<ref name="ref2" /><ref name="ref6" />

These suspicions were supported by several confessions made in 2003 by former North Korean citizens and allies. In late January 2003, Kim Sang-gyu, a former senior official of Chongryon, admitted to running an espionage network in Japan for North Korea until 2000. He confessed to receiving his orders from Pyongyang through various high-ranking crew members aboard the ''Man Gyong Bong 92''.<ref name="ref1" />

On May 20, 2003, a former North Korean missile scientist testified at a [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] hearing that the ''Man Gyong Bong 92'' transported 90% of the missile parts used by North Korea.<ref name="ref1" /> These components were suspected of having been obtained from typical Japanese electronics such as game consoles and digital cameras, which would also make them easier to smuggle out of the country.<ref name="ref2" />

In August 2003, the ''[[Yomiuri Shimbun]]'' reported that a [[North Korean defectors|North Korean defector]] confessed to smuggling drugs for North Korea into Japan through the ''Man Gyong Bong 92''. He would deliver these drugs to a member of Chongryon, who would then deliver the drugs to the Japanese [[yakuza]]. This confession supported the [[United States Department of State|U.S. State Department]] testimonies made in May of that year, that North Korea’s [[methamphetamine]] market in Japan provided the government with a profit of up to US $7 billion.<ref name="ref5" />

These allegations were denied by both the North Korean government and the head of Chongryon's foreign affairs bureau, So Chung-on.<ref name="ref7" /> While there was not enough evidence to support these allegations, that didn’t stop Japanese suspicions. Since the abduction admission, Japan began a stricter enforcement of regulations on North Korean vessels, especially the ''Man Gyong Bong 92''.<ref name="ref5" /> In one instance, the threat of a thorough inspection supposedly caused the ''Man Gyong Bong 92'' to remain in North Korea and to cancel its voyage, one that was to be the first to Japan in five months.<ref name="ref8">"Mangyongbong Issue Not to Affect Multilateral Talks: Fukuda." Jiji Press English News Service: 1. 2003.</ref>

==Japanese ban==
On July 5, 2006, [[2006 North Korean missile test|North Korea launched seven missiles]], one of which was a long-range [[Taepodong-2]] missile capable of reaching Alaska. While all missiles landed in the [[Sea of Japan]], Japan responded by banning the ''Man Gyong Bong 92'' from Japanese waters for six months.<ref name="ref2" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/n-korea-missile-launch-alarm/2006/07/05/1151778972562.html|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=2006-07-04|title=Seventh missile launched: report}}</ref>

In early October 2006, this ban became permanent and was imposed on all North Korean vessels, following North Korea’s nuclear tests.<ref name="ref2" />

==Implementation for tourism==
With the ''Man Gyong Bong 92'' no longer able to make its intended trip to Japan, North Korea refurbished the ferry to serve as a cruise ship. ''The Man Gyong Bong 92''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s new route traveled along the east coast of North Korea between [[Rason]], in the northeast, and [[Mount Kumgang]], near the [[South Korea]]n border. The purpose of this cruise was to boost North Korea’s tourism, the one industry that is exempt from [[United Nations]] economic sanctions.<ref name="ref10">{{cite news|last=Wong |first=Edward |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/14/world/asia/north-korea-seeks-to-lure-tourists-to-holiday-cruises.html?_r=0 |title=North Korean Cruise Seeks Tourists, 8 to a Room |work=The New York Times |date=2011-09-13 |accessdate=2015-04-15}}</ref> The tourists would meet in [[Yanji]], [[China]] and drive three hours to Rason, North Korea. The ''Man Gyong Bong 92'' would take them to Mount Kumgang, a scenic tourist destination complete with beaches and a golf resort. This area was jointly operated by North and South Korea until the fatal shooting of a South Korean tourist by a North Korean soldier in 2008, upon which all South Korean property was seized by the North.<ref name="ref11">{{cite news|last=Olesen |first=Alexa |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/31/north-korea-launches-tours-from-china-snubbing-sko/ |title=North Korea, snubbing South Korea, launches tours in China |publisher=The Washington Times |date=2011-08-31 |accessdate=2015-04-15}}</ref>

The trial run of the cruise took place in late August 2011. Many of the approximately 200 passengers were travel agents, media, and North Korean officials, with some paying about US $470 for the 5-day trip on both land and sea.<ref name="ref11" /> The trip south to Mount Kumgang took about 21 hours while the trip back took about 22 hours.<ref name="ref10" /> In contrast to the lavish send-off the ship received in Rason, the passengers were cramped into bedrooms and were assigned either a wooden bunk bed or a mattress on the floor. Meals were also simple and served “cafeteria-style”.<ref name="ref11" />

In February 2013, North Korea reported replacing the ''Man Gyon Bong 92'' with a Singaporean cruise ship called the ''[[Dmitri Shostakovich-class ferry|Royale Star]]''.<ref name="ref12">{{cite news|url=http://ifes.kyungnam.ac.kr/eng/FRM/FRM_0101V.aspx?code=FRM130227_0001 |title=North Korea Trying to Attract Foreign Tourists |publisher=NK Briefs |date=2013-02-27 |accessdate=2015-04-15}}</ref> Satellite images subsequently placed the ''Man Gyong Bong 92'' in Wonsan Harbor.<ref name="ref13">{{cite news|url=http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2011/08/07/mangyongbong-92-to-be-put-to-use-in-rason/ |title=Mangyongbong 92 to be put to use in Rason for tourism |publisher=North Korean Economy Watch |date=2011-08-31 |accessdate=2015-04-15}}</ref>

In September 2014, North Korea was expected to send a report to Japan that addressed the fate of the 1970s-1980s abductees. In August, though, the country made further requests for Japan to ease sanctions and provide further humanitarian aid in return for the report. These requests were suspected to be aimed at the allowance of the ''Man Gyong Bong 92'' into Japanese waters.<ref name="ref14">{{cite news|last=Richards |first=Clint |url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/08/pyongyangs-new-demands-could-derail-japanese-abductee-negotiations/ |title=Pyongyang's New Demands Could Derail Japanese Abductee Negotiations |publisher=The Diplomat |date=2014-08-15 |accessdate=2015-04-15}}</ref>

In March 2015, Japan continued to apply [[sanctions against North Korea]] when no further reports were made regarding the abductees, leaving the ''Man Gyong Bong 92'' anchored in Wonsan.<ref name="ref15">{{cite news|last=Takahashi|first=Maiko |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-31/japan-to-extend-sanctions-on-north-korea-over-abductee-issue |title=Pyongyang's New Demands Could Derail Japanese Abductee Negotiations |publisher=Bloomberg Business |date=2015-03-30 |accessdate=2015-04-15}}</ref> In 2017, the ferry performed a trial run between [[Rason]] and [[Vladivostok]], [[Russia]].<ref>{{cite news |quote=The Man Gyong Bong 92 left the North Korean port of Rajin on Wednesday evening with about 40 passengers on a trial run. It arrived in Vladivostok on Thursday at 8 a.m., Russia's state-run Tass news agency reported. |publisher=[[UPI]] |title=North Korea ferry service launched between Rajin, Vladivostok |first=Elizabeth |last=Shim |date=May 18, 2017 |url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2017/05/18/North-Korea-ferry-service-launched-between-Rajin-Vladivostok/2981495114268/?nll=1}}</ref>

==2018 Winter Olympics==
In February 2018, the ship docked at [[Mukho]], South Korea, carrying a 140-person orchestra for the 2018 Winter Olympics.<ref name="reuters2">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2018-northkorea-ferry/orchestral-maneuvers-south-korean-protesters-greet-north-korean-olympics-ferry-idUSKBN1FQ0HS?il=0 |publisher=[[Reuters]] |title=Orchestral maneuvers: South Korean protesters greet North Korean Olympics ferry |date=February 6, 2018 |first1=Hyonhee |last1=Shin |first2=Christine |last2=Kim |first3=Hyunjoo |last3=Jin |editor-first=Paul |editor-last=Tait |editor2-first=Nick |editor2-last=Macfie}}</ref> The ship also carried an art troupe and was the first North Korean ship to arrive in South Korea since 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nknews.org/2018/02/carrying-art-troupe-north-koreas-mangyongbong-92-arrives-in-south-korea/|title=Carrying art troupe, North Korea's Mangyongbong-92 arrives in South Korea|work=[[NK News]]|author=Dagyum Ji|date=February 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fESOnIgvB0A |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/fESOnIgvB0A |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=North Korea's art troupe arrives in South Korea via ferry Tuesday|publisher=Arirang News|work=YouTube|date=February 6, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> This ship carried, among other people, a 150 person North Korean delegation for the [[2018 Winter Olympics]] to the port of [[Mukho]], under a special exemption from a 16 year ban on North Korean vessels. It was subsequently greeted by protesters opposing North Korea and [[Kim Jong-un]], and protesters singing "[[Aegukga]]", the National Anthem of [[South Korea]].<ref name="reuters2"/>

==Significance==
As the primary connection between North Korea and Japan, the ''Man Gyong Bong 92'' was extremely important to North Koreans living in Japan. For many, it offered the only contact with family members residing in North Korea. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, there was a [[Koreans in Japan#Repatriation to Korea|mass repatriation]] of Zainichi from Japan to the seemingly rich and prosperous North Korea. While this movement began to die down soon afterwards, over 93,000 Koreans and about 6,000 Japanese moved to North Korea between 1959 and 1984, each of them forced to remain there due to North Korea’s strict laws. As a result, this separation became a convenient way for North Korea to maintain the loyalty from repatriated citizens’ family members in Japan. Nevertheless, both the first ''Man Gyong Bong'' and the ''Man Gyong Bong 92'' offered a connection between families that were commonly separated from this movement.<ref name="ref1" />

The ''Man Gyong Bong 92'' was also extremely important to Chongryon as it brought them money and gifts from the North Korean government. The presence of Chongryon and the ''Man Gyong Bong 92'', though, was perceived as a threat towards the Japanese by having the "enemy" in their own backyard. In response, political moves, such as the creation of the [[National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea|NARKN]], have taken place. Social changes have occurred as well where Koreans, particular students at Chongryon schools, are harassed. And suspicions of North Korean ploys, like those regarding the ''Man Gyong Bong 92'' smugglings, would only increase the intensity of this behavior.<ref name="ref1" />

==Specifications==
*Tonnage: 9,672&nbsp;tons
*Length: 162.1&nbsp;m
*Width: 20.5&nbsp;m
*Speed: 23&nbsp;knots
*Capacity: 200 passengers and 1,000 tons of cargo

Sources:<ref name="ref1" /><ref name="ref5" /><ref name="ref16">{{cite web|url=http://www.interq.or.jp/white/ishiyama/e-column44.htm|publisher=InterQ, a subsidiary of GMO Internet Group LLC.|date=2001-08-04|title=Mangyongbong 92, A North Korean Ferry|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805214152/http://www.interq.or.jp/white/ishiyama/e-column44.htm|archivedate=2013-08-05}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
*[http://washingtontimes.com/world/20061016-122859-4745r.htm Man Gyong Bong 92 banned indefinitely from Japanese waters due to smuggling.]
*[https://archive.today/20070808075642/http://freekorea.us/2007/04/13/touring-lovely-wonsan/ Google Earth images of the Man Gyong Bong 92] docked in Wonsan harbor.
{{Portal bar|Transport|North Korea|Japan}}

[[Category:Ferries of North Korea]]
[[Category:Japan–North Korea relations]]
[[Category:1992 ships]]
[[Category:Chongryon]]