New Delhi - A North Korean ship headed for Pakistan has been detained off the Kerala coast by the Indian navy and coast guard after it anchored in Indian waters without required clearance, news reports said Sunday.

The North Korean vessel, Hyang Ro, was detained at Vadakara in the southern state of Kerala after it anchored without permission, IANS news agency reported citing an Indian Navy official.

"The vessel had anchored in Indian waters on October 2 without mandatory clearance. It cited an internal leak in its tanks as the reason for anchoring the ship in Indian waters," the navy official was quoted as saying.

The ship of approximately of 9,000 tonnes was en route to Port Bin Qasim in Pakistan from Colombo.

"A joint team consisting of personnel from the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, police, intelligence agencies and port authorities is inspecting the vessel," the official added.

The ship was owned by Pyongyang-based Sinhung Shipping Company and its captain was Choe Sung Ho, the official said.

In a similar incident on August 7 the Indian Navy had detained another North Korean ship that had anchored without permission in Indian waters off the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

There has been international concern that North Korean merchant vessels may be used for ferrying clandestine nuclear materials to countries like Pakistan, Syria, Iran and Myanmar. (dpa)