[3] Chongchongang Shipping may be a front company answering to "Office #39" (otherwise known as the Central Committee Bureau 39) of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), which is responsible for state-sanctioned illicit activities such as the smuggling of prohibited items including weapons and luxury goods.

[5][6] After the attack, the ship caught the attention of maritime officials when it made a stop at the Russian naval facility in Tartus, Syria.

This and "unspecified" intelligence prompted Panamanian officials to seize the ship on 15 July at Manzanillo International Terminal.

[8][9] Reportedly, when Panamanian troops approached the ship, its crew responded violently and the captain later attempted to kill himself.

[10] A reported missile was found buried in a cargo of 250,000 bags of brown sugar, resulting in the vessel's seizure.

[15] In October 2014 the Chong Chon Gang was transferred to another North Korean owner, Tonghunsan Shipping Company, and renamed Tong Hun San.