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Washington - U.S. Military Tracking North Korean Ship Suspected of Proliferating Missiles, Nukes |
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he U.S. military is tracking the North Korean ship shown here, called the Kang Nam.
The ship, Kang Nam, left a port in North Korea Wednesday and could be carrying weaponry, missile parts or nuclear materials. The U.S. military has been tracking it since its departure.
"It is believed to be 'of interest,'" a senior U.S. official told FOX News.
This is the first suspected "proliferator" that the U.S. and its allies have tracked from North Korea since the United Nations authorized the world's navies to enforce compliance with a variety of U.N. sanctions aimed at punishing North Korea for its recent nuclear test.
The apparent violation raises the question of how the United States and its allies will respond, particularly since the U.N. resolution does not have a lot of teeth to it.
The resolution would not allow the United States to forcibly board the ship. Rather, U.S. military would have to request permission to board -- a request North Korea is unlikely to grant.
North Korea has said that any attempt to board its ships would be viewed as an act of war and promised "100- or 1,000-fold" retaliation if provoked.
If there is cause to pursue the ship, sources told FOX News the U.S. military would instead likely follow the slow-moving vessel until it goes into port to refuel.
At that point, sources said, the U.S. military could request that the host country not provide fuel to the ship.
The Kang Nam is known to be a ship that has been involved in proliferation activities in the past -- it is "a repeat offender," according to one military source.
FOX News' Jennifer Griffin and Justin Fishel contributed to this report.
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Read Comments (8) — Post Yours »
1
Jun 18, 2009 at 02:49 PM Raphael Kaufman Says:
If she refuses to heave to and be boarded, the Navy should sink her.
2
Jun 18, 2009 at 03:24 PM ML Says:
“ If she refuses to heave to and be boarded, the Navy should sink her. ”
Then you would be taking the chance of starting ww3
3
Jun 18, 2009 at 03:09 PM Kim Jong Il Says:
What?? The US is tracking us??
Thank you for this report, VIN.
I will take the neccesary action.
4
Jun 18, 2009 at 03:07 PM Anonymous Says:
get ready for war
5
Jun 18, 2009 at 03:46 PM How's YOUR change; how's YOUR hope??? Says:
And here we all thought that with the messiah as president everyone would behave and we could all get along?
6
Jun 18, 2009 at 03:26 PM Anonymous Says:
Ya ya what does obama has to say ?
7
Jun 18, 2009 at 03:56 PM a yid Says:
Looks like it will be a hot summer in more ways than one.
8
Jun 19, 2009 at 12:58 AM Anonymous Says:
With this stupid obama we are still only here. We need a real consivetive to be in charge here. And do to the zach!!!