North Korea was also criticized for the sinking of a South Korean ship.

About a dozen South Korean ships were scrambled to intercept it.

After the collision, the North Korean ships trained their guns at us, and we responded in kind.

In line with the traditional structure of Korean ships, the panokseon had a flat keel.

However, its role has since been transformed to prevent North Korean ships heading south.

Demand for South Korean ships fell 38 percent as boat builders there worked through a record number of orders placed in 2000.

Then, a few weeks ago, Australia seized a North Korean ship loaded with drugs.

In 2003, only 2.5 percent of North Korean ships visiting Japan had insurance.

In recent weeks, only one North Korean ship, a passenger-cargo ferry, is known to have purchased insurance.

Impeding North Korean ships for similar arms trafficking would be hypocritical.