By As I said before the UN Security Council Resolution is worthless as the North Korean Kang Nam I is reportedly sailing to Myanmar where no inspections will take place:
But it only “calls upon” countries to search North Korean ships, with their consent, if there are “reasonable grounds” to suspect that banned cargo is aboard. If the crew does not accept inspection on high seas, North Korea was required to direct the vessel to a port for inspection by the local authorities there.
Singapore, a U.S. ally and the regional refueling hub for ships, said it would act “appropriately” if the vessel docks at its ports. But there was doubt that Myanmar would cooperate with such an inspection.
U.S. officials have long sought legal tools to stop North Korean arms trade. In 2002, the Spanish and U.S. navies intercepted a North Korean ship carrying missile parts to Yemen but had to let it go because there was then no legal cause.
Even now, the U.N. resolution, whose wording was watered down because of concerns voiced by Russia and China, left questions about its effectiveness, a loophole highlighted by the Kang Nam’s reported voyage to Myanmar. [New York Times]
11:12 pm on June 20th, 2009 1
Like we couldn't just wipe it off the surface of the ocean with no one knowing.
1:09 am on June 21st, 2009 2
Myanmar. Why am I not surprised? Birds of a feather flock together. Supposedly the North Koreans have been digging tunnels for that ruthless regime. I suppose they will get some nice Burmese gold ingots for whatever they are bringing to their fellow thuggish dictators. It makes one wonder if the Burmese junta have a little nuke program going in those tunnels the North Koreans have been digging for them.
10:03 am on June 21st, 2009 3
The fact the ship is North Korean is enough to suspect that it's carrying weapons, drugs, and counterfeit currency or goods.
3:45 pm on June 21st, 2009 4
For those interested you can read about the North Korean tunneling for Myanmar here:
http://rokdrop.com/2009/06/16/did-north-korea-export-tunneling-technology-to-burma-hezbollah/
The Norks could be constructing the tunnels simply as a quid pro quo to allow them to use Myanmar’s port facilities to refuel their ships without being inspected.
2:57 pm on June 21st, 2009 5
The North Korean ship is suspected of carrying missles and related parts. The UN resolution would allow a request for inspection and if denied the ship would be required to go to port for inspection.
Refueling ports have little to do with the matter. Location of the intercept and request for inspection would.
Gotta love the UN for making another soup sandwich.
5:55 pm on June 21st, 2009 6
I understand KJI has had his eye on the statue of Burmese Prince for quite some time.
9:58 am on June 22nd, 2009 7
Clearly no Tom Hanks fans out there who've seen Volunteers.
1:59 pm on June 22nd, 2009 8
Now being reported as carrying small arms by South Korea. Possible finale destination Myamar (Burma).
If so, not a big deal, and another triumph for the UN. (no need to do anything).
7:56 pm on June 22nd, 2009 9
Looks like to me that these rusty tubs from the norK’s could suddenly “sink” at any moment. If the crews were lucky, there might even be a chance that a US naval vessel might just so happen to be in the area to rescue them.
8:25 pm on June 22nd, 2009 10
I agree GI, Kim Jong Il is just trying to set the U.S. up.
As a reminder to everyone-The North Koreans have a "Play Book" on how to deal with the rest of the world to get what they want. They're very smart and tricky and obviously the South Koreans admire what they get away with.
As far as the U.S. goes, they are getting what they want to0 – which is to have a presence in NE Asia (US troops in S. Korea). The U.S. cannot force the basket case of a regime like North Korea to do anything, the U.S. bowed out of fighting in Asia after the ass kicking in Vietnam. There's just too many people to fight, NK, Chinese, Russia.
The U.S. is outnumbered and only wants to keep the presence it already has. Nobody really cares enough about Kim's nuclear weapons and other shenanigans to do anything about it. North Korea gets to win because of the exact location it is in- Between friendly China/Russia and the US backed South. The only people who lose are the Koreans suffering in the North.
8:47 pm on June 22nd, 2009 11
“…the U.S. bowed out of fighting in Asia after the ass kicking in Vietnam.
Perhaps ‘bloody nose’ would be a better words than ‘ass kicking.’
U.S. dead: 58,159
North Vietnamese dead: 1,176,000
9:47 pm on June 22nd, 2009 12
I would be surprised if there was any WMD components on this ship. I think it is pretty clear that the Norks are testing what the US will do by dispatching this ship. If they plan on shipping WMD components they will do so in a more clever manner then this.
12:18 am on June 23rd, 2009 13
Ass kicking as in depleted it's treasure, pride, innocence etc.