US Navy Ready to Intercept the Kang Nam – “A Repeat Offender”

The United States is preparing to intercept a North Korean ship suspected of proliferating weapon’s material. The American warship John S. McCain has been tracking the the North Korean Kang Nam since it left its North Korean port Wednesday. Apparently the John S. McCain (pictures) has also been followed – a couple of days ago it was involved in a collision with a Chinese submarine that was stalking it.  

The Kang Nam also has a history. According to an unnamed military source, it is “a repeat offender” and was stopped in 2006 in Hong Kong following the North’s first nuclear test. The ship, and its sistership, Kang Nam 5, were both held in Hong Kong, but not for carrying contraband – they were held for safety violations. The Kang Nam was one of the first North Korean ships to visit Burma Myanmar in April 2007 following the reestablishment of North Korea and Mynmar relations. Supposedly its visit was accidental: merely seeking refuge from a storm, and the Mynmar government allowed it to dock for humanitarian reasons. However, the true purpose of its visit might have had something to do with Myanmar’s dream of being a nuclear power by 2025. There were rumors a North Korean nuclear technology specialist, Major Hong Kil-dong (possibly named after the Korean Robin Hood) was in Rangoon offering the Burmese government nuclear and biological technology. Here is a picture of the Kang Nam but don’t bother reading the article – it has nothing to do with the ship.

Perhaps the North needs to start reflagging again. And then again, maybe not. The UN resolution does not allow the US to forcibly board and search the North Korean ships, instead, the United States will have to ask for and be granted permission by the North Koreans to stop and search their ships – something that is not going to happen. North Korea has promised to deliver a “100 or 1,000 fold” retaliation if anyone does try to board their ships.

According to FOX – “Since the U.S. does not expect to be granted permission, it expects to be asked to interdict that it will have to shadow the ship until it runs out of fuel. At that point, the ship would likely have to be towed into the port.” I don’t see this happening either. Most likely the US will try to ”poison the host,” by working behind the scenes and having the authorities at the final destination inspect and confiscate illegal cargoes.