This is not the 1971-built passenger/cargo ship "Mangyongbong" with IMO No.7111406 (see my & Raisuke Numata's photos of the as-original real one, also on the Daily Mail’s website of September 2011 following her remodelling)

Note that many newsitems concerning this event wrongly mention the much newer MANG GYONG BONG 92 as having performed the first sailing.

Davidships, thank you for the info provided. I agree with you. She was probably used as training ship, as she is of convenient construction: accommodation for cadets and instructors, and cargo holds for real traing on commercial ship operation.

BRGDS
Ruslan

Has been listed since 2007 as owned by Rajin University of Marine Transport, so presumably been operating for some years as a training ship (following the Japanese ban in 2006 of a regular service there). Now returned to commercial service, operated in conjunction with Russian company "InvestStroyTrest" - details (in Russian)
http://rajin-investstroytrest.ru/51-predlojenie_2.html

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/05/18/asia/ferry-russia-north-korea/

Yes! She is quite alive and even inaugurating new ferry service between Rajin, North Korean and Vladivostok, Russia.

BRGDS
Ruslan

So it is not "dead" as per Add.Info box