Q+A-What might happen with monitored North Korean ship?
22 Jun 2009 02:19:48 GMT Source: Reuters
(For full coverage of North Korea, click [ID:nSP431049]) June 22 (Reuters) - A North Korean ship the U.S. Navy is tracking under a U.N. resolution that bars Pyongyang from trading in banned weapons is likely headed for Myanmar, South Korean television has reported. YTN television, quoting an unidentified South Korean intelligence source, on Sunday said U.S. officials suspected the vessel had missiles or missile parts on board. U.S. officials have declined to say what the Kang Nam might be carrying, but said it was "a subject of interest". WHAT IS THE LATEST? YTN quoted the source as saying the final destination of the Kang Nam could be Myanmar, after it left a North Korean port last Wednesday. North Korea has good ties with the military rulers in Myanmar, which is likely to ignore the U.N. resolution. It was unclear if Myanmar would be the recipient of any heavy weapons such as missiles, but analysts say both countries could be sharing military technology. North Korea and Myanmar restored relations in 2007 after a rupture in ties in 1983 when North Korean agents tried to kill then South Korean President Chun Doo Hwan in Yangon, called Rangoon at the time. More than 20 people, including four South Korean ministers, were killed when the agents blew up a major landmark in the city. The Kang Nam is the first North Korean ship to be monitored under the new resolution, adopted this month in response to Pyongyang's May 25 nuclear test. The resolution authorised U.N. member states to inspect North Korean sea, air and land cargo. The YTN report cited the intelligence source as saying North Korea has five ships in its Kang Nam line that have been known to be used for transporting arms. The United States and others have said they suspect North Korea of selling arms, missile parts and proliferating nuclear expertise in violation of earlier U.N. sanctions. HOW MIGHT THE SITUATION PLAY OUT? A U.S. naval vessel could intercept the ship, which is believed to be North Korean flagged, while it is in international waters and officers could seek permission to board. According to the resolution, permission must be given by the flag nation, or Pyongyang in this case, which would be sure to refuse. North Korea has not commented on the monitoring of the ship but is likely to regard any attempt to inspect its cargo as highly provocative and a further reason to test the resolve of the international community. It has threatened a military strike if any country tries to impose any sort of naval blockade. WHAT DOES THE U.N. RESOLUTION ALLOW? It calls upon -- but does not order -- U.N. member states to inspect cargo to and from North Korea if there are grounds to believe it contains banned materials. It calls upon member states to inspect vessels, with the consent of the flag state, on the high seas, if they have information a ship has prohibited items. If the flag state refuses to give permission, it is supposed to ask the vessel to sail to a convenient port for inspection by local authorities, who should seize any banned goods and destroy them. However, the resolution does not authorise the use of force. If a North Korean ship refuses to be inspected, the only recourse is to report the refusal to the Security Council. The resolution also says member states should withhold fuel and supplies to North Korean vessels if a ship is believed to contain prohibited items unless provision of such services would be needed on humanitarian grounds. WHY WOULD NORTH KOREA SEEK TO FLOUT THE SANCTIONS? Weapons exports are a key source of revenue for North Korea's broken economy. A study by the U.S.-based Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis think tank estimated North Korea, whose annual GDP is about $20 billion, earns some $1.5 billion a year from missile sales. North Korean missile technology has already been exported to Pakistan, Libya, Iran, Syria and Egypt. Washington says Pyongyang has also exported nuclear technology to Syria. A drop in trade and the value of North Korea's currency has cut the regime's access to foreign exchange, further raising the risk Pyongyang will increase the sale of its military know-how. (Writing by Dean Yates; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)
Protesters hold pictures of murdered Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya during a demonstration against the visit of Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev in Amsterdam June 19, 2009. Medvedev is on a two-day-visit to ...
