Seoul may join the PSI, but like I have continued to say I will be surprised if they actually intercept and detain any North Korean ships because of the reaction from the North:

North Korea’s army issued a fresh warning to the South Saturday not to join a U.S-led initiative against the flow of weapons, saying it would be considered an act of war.

North Korea has expelled international inspectors and threatened to restart its nuclear plant after being chastised by the United Nations for a rocket launch, which many see as a disguised long-range missile test.

South Korea, which already angered the communist neighbour by ending its unconditional aid, is expected to join the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) in a move that could cut into the North’s international arms business.

Pyongyang’s official news agency KCNA quoted a spokesman for the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army as saying Seoul’s move to join PSI was tantamount to “a declaration of undisguised confrontation and a declaration of a war.”

It said the North’s army would increase defence capability including nuclear deterrent, without being limited by agreements from previous international disarmament talks.

“(South Korea) should never forget that Seoul is just 50 km away from the Military Demarcation Line,” it said.  [Reuters]

Notice how the North emphasized the distance of Seoul from North Korea. The usual North Korean trump card.

If South Korea was to begin stopping and inspecting North Korean ships how would North Korea respond?

• First of all they would arm their ships and fight it out at sea.
• Secondly the North could launch ambushes along the DMZ or the Northern Limit Line to kill ROK military personnel.
• The North could launch these attacks in conjunction with their fifth column taking to the streets of Seoul blaming Lee Myung-bak for the escalation in violence.

What else do readers think North Korea could do in response to South Korea inspecting their ships?