North Korean Ship Not Seen Carrying Missiles

North Korean Ship Not Seen Carrying Missiles
Tuesday, June 23, 2009

A North Korean cargo ship being monitored for potentially violating a recent U.N. arms embargo is not likely to be carrying missiles or other sophisticated technology, the Christian Science Monitor reported yesterday (see GSN, June 22).

(Jun. 23) - The North Korean ship Kang Nam 1, shown at port in 2007, is not likely to be transferring missiles or related technology, reports indicated (Khin Maung Win/Getty Images).

While a South Korean media outlet earlier reported that the Kang Nam 1 might be ferrying missile technology, others have argued the cargo is probably more basic. The ship is believed to be bound for Myanmar, an impoverished nation with a modest place in the world. "Myanmar -- they're not a missile-buyer," said James Schoff, an Asia-Pacific studies scholar with the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis.

The ship's cargo more probably includes artillery, rifles or other small arms, according to the Monitor.

A U.N. Security Council resolution passed earlier this month, in response to the North's May 25 nuclear test, prohibits Pyongyang from exporting or importing any weapons. It calls on U.N. states to intercept any ships believed to hold illicit material.

A U.S. Navy destroyer might still intercept the Kang Nam. However, the United States could also wait to see if the ship attempts to refuel in Singapore.

Singapore is a U.S. ally and has said it would respond should the North Korean vessel attempt to dock there while transporting weapons illegally. "Singapore does not want to be thought of as a contributor to the illicit arms trade," Schoff said.

Under the resolution, ports are urged not to provide fuel or other material to ships believed to be carrying weapons unless the captain permits the vessel to be checked out (Peter Grier, Christian Science Monitor, June 22).

The ship today passed by the Chinese city of Shanghai, the Associated Press reported (Hyung-Jin Kim, Associated Press I/Yahoo!News, June 23).

A South Korean intelligence source yesterday also said he believes the Kang Nam is bringing small arms to Myanmar, AP reported.

Myanmar, like North Korea, is viewed as a pariah by the United States and the European Union, which have sought to block its access to weapons. It has bought North Korean arms before.

A coalition of journalists exiled from Myanmar, who run a well-reputed online magazine called Irrawaddy, reported that the ship is scheduled to call at the port of Thilawa sometime in the next few days.

If the U.S. Navy tries to intercept the Kang Nam before it reaches Myanmar, an armed conflict is not likely to follow, said Korean defense expert Baek Seung-joo. While the North Korean sailors probably have rifles, "It's still a cargo ship," Baek said. "A cargo ship can't confront a warship" (Hyung-Jin Kim, Associated Press II/Google News, June 23).

The USS John McCain, which has been shadowing the Kang Nam as it has made its way down the Chinese coast, has not made any moves to engage the North Korean vessel, the Wall Street Journal reported today.

"Right now, we're just watching," said one Pentagon official.

Some analysts told the Journal that fears about unconventional weapons proliferation to Myanmar are not totally unfounded.

"Given North Korea's nuclear trade to Syria, its attempts to sell Scuds to Myanmar, and its ongoing sales of conventional arms, there's reason to be worried about a WMD relationship," said Michael Green, a Myanmar expert and former adviser to then-President George W. Bush.

Analysts at Yale University several weeks ago released photographs of workers constructing a network of tunnels beneath Myanmar's capital city of Naypyitaw with North Korean collaborators, and some Burmese expatriates have spoke of plans for an offensive nuclear program. Still, U.S. and U.N. officials said there is no "smoking gun" indicating Myanmar would be in the business of purchasing anything but basic munitions from the North (Solomon/Dreazen, Wall Street Journal, June 23).

Meanwhile, North Korea has warned boats away from a sector off its east coast due to military exercises expected to continue through July 10, Agence France-Presse reported.

Observers have taken this as a sign that the North is planning a series of short- and medium-range missile trials.

There is also suspicion that the North might send an ICBM in the direction of Hawaii. A Japanese newspaper reported last week that Pyongyang is planning to test a Taepodong 2 missile sometime between July 4 and July 8 (Agence France-Presse I/Spacewar.com, June 23).

Elsewhere, a U.S. delegation visited Beijing to discuss China's crucial role in helping enforce the recent U.N. sanctions against North Korea, AFP reported.

"China and the U.S. discussing the situation on the Korean Peninsula is a natural thing and we take this consultation very seriously, and hope that we can get positive results from it," said Qin Gang, a spokesman for Chine's Foreign Ministry (Agence France-Presse II/SinoDaily.com, June 23).