US Tracking North Korean Ship

[SteveGrenard]

WASHINGTON (XFN-ASIA) - The US is tracking a 'suspicious' vessel that left a North Korean port, a US official said, adding that the cargo is as yet undetermined.

CBS News reported that US intelligence suspects that the vessel is carrying military equipment banned under sanctions imposed by UN Security Council in response to North Korea's Oct 9 nuclear test.

'The United States is aware of a vessel that has left a North Korean port,' the US official told Agence France-Presse. 'There are some suspicions. I would be careful of the certitude of the vessel's cargo.'

The official said it was a 'suspicious ship,' suggesting that its history was a key reason for watching it.

According to CNN, the ship had transported weapons in the past and left a port southwest of Pyongyang.

http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2006/10/19/afx3106530.html

 

[CFLarsen]

....and?

 

[rockoon]

By my estimation, this is the best thread to post a quote from CNN during its "live coverage" of the aftermath of that earth quake in hawaii:


"....[several hours of commentary]....There are unconfirmed reports of minor injury....[several more hours of comentary]...."

 

[Huntster]

....and?

It's being tracked.

Maybe we'll learn more, and maybe we won't.

 

[SteveGrenard]

It's being tracked.

Maybe we'll learn more, and maybe we won't.

The obvious concern is that it is headed toward Iran and contains materiel which could help make good on threats made yesterday by Iran to make Israel dissapear.

 

[geni]

The obvious concern is that it is headed toward Iran and contains materiel which could help make good on threats made yesterday by Iran to make Israel dissapear.

Doubful. Iran is looking at uranium based weapons and NK has plutonium based stuff. Rockets would be more likely but Iran is getting quite good at makeing it's own.

 

[SteveGrenard]

Doubful. Iran is looking at uranium based weapons and NK has plutonium based stuff. Rockets would be more likely but Iran is getting quite good at makeing it's own.

The Yomiuri Shimbun

Six of seven missiles that North Korea test-fired on July 5 fell inside a sea zone that was put off-limits for ships in advance by Pyongyang, government sources said Saturday, adding that the missiles' accuracy indicates the tests were successful.

Soon after the launches, the government announced the six missiles, which were Rodong and Scud missiles and exclude the launch of a Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile, were estimated to have hit points 400 to 500 kilometers out to sea.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1678596/posts

 

[Beerina]

Doubful. Iran is looking at uranium based weapons and NK has plutonium based stuff. Rockets would be more likely but Iran is getting quite good at makeing it's own.

So if NK is "cut off" from the rest of the world now, by the UN, why doesn't the UN board the ship and see what's on there?

 

[Rob Lister]

So if NK is "cut off" from the rest of the world now, by the UN, why doesn't the UN board the ship and see what's on there?

Because first they'd have to send a stern letter warning they were going to do so and no post office delivers at sea.

 

[This Guy]

I think the situation could be rather discreetly handled by a well aimed MK 48 (torpedo) fired from a couple thousand feet away, and a few hundred feet below the ship

 

[Darth Rotor]

I think the situation could be rather discreetly handled by a well aimed MK 48 (torpedo) fired from a couple thousand feet away, and a few hundred feet below the ship

I think 2-4 nm, wire guided, would do nicely. No need to get too close.

DR

 

[Huntster]

Originally Posted by Huntster
It's being tracked.

Maybe we'll learn more, and maybe we won't.

The obvious concern is that it is headed toward Iran and contains materiel which could help make good on threats made yesterday by Iran to make Israel dissapear.

Yup.

 

[Huntster]

If Israel is threatened, they'll respond.

They don't seem to be bothered as much by all the touchy-feely stuff that binds Europe and the U.S.

 

[This Guy]

I think 2-4 nm, wire guided, would do nicely. No need to get too close.

DR

Actually, I meant yards away, not feet. And the 48 is wire guided, and has quite a lot longer range than 2000 yards.

But I was tired, and thinking periscope photo op in the back of my mind. That of course would require a more shallow depth

 

[geni]

So if NK is "cut off" from the rest of the world now, by the UN, why doesn't the UN board the ship and see what's on there?

Because that wasn't the resolution that was passed. It's not up to the UN to board it. It is up to any country that wishes to to board it.

 

[geni]

I think the situation could be rather discreetly handled by a well aimed MK 48 (torpedo) fired from a couple thousand feet away, and a few hundred feet below the ship

Flawed.

The ships location is known and it can be followed. Can gain more information by following it and eventualy haveing someone board it than sinking the thing (which would look really bad if it turns out to be full of say orphans).

 

[webfusion]

Actually, I meant yards away, not feet. And the 48 is wire guided, and has quite a lot longer range than 2000 yards.

But I was tired, and thinking periscope photo op in the back of my mind. That of course would require a more shallow depth.

My fault --- I shouldn't have let you come over last night to smoke all that kick-a&& reefer.

 

[SteveGrenard]

Flawed.

The ships location is known and it can be followed. Can gain more information by following it and eventualy haveing someone board it than sinking the thing (which would look really bad if it turns out to be full of say orphans).

What if it's a boat load of Korean orphans AND missiles? What's to stop Kim from using orphans as human shields? It wouldn't even be a precedent (e.g. see Lebanon this year).

If there are orphans on board certain people need to be notified immediately:
Mia, Angelina and Madonna. Also let Rosie know also.

 

[DaChew]

If you're tracking a ship and you want to know where it's going and what it might be carrying, do you release the news to the media so that NK also knows you are tracking the ship?

 

[SteveGrenard]

If you're tracking a ship and you want to know where it's going and what it might be carrying, do you release the news to the media so that NK also knows you are tracking the ship?

Too many people know about it so it's no secret. Anything we are getting is probably all anyone officially involved wants the world to know.

The Korean press have the story. They know about it, read this:

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2006/10/20/200610200059.asp

The Japanese are involved:

http://www.elitestv.com/pub/2006/Oct/EEN4538fdeec1e09.html

An unidentified U.S. official told AFP the vessel was suspicious and indicated its history was the reason for the surveillance, the news agency said. AFP didn't say when the boat left port or where it was.

Geez, even the French have a source (AFP):

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aULlVHi3.kBI&refer=asia


The US Navy and DOD spilling their guts on this also. All no-names.:

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Navy is tracking a North Korean cargo ship that left port and was headed south from the Korean Peninsula, several Defense Department officials said Friday.

One of the officials, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information, said the United States does not know what the ship is carrying or its destination.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20061020-0923-us-northkoreaship.html

Hollywood needs to know on several levels: so they can gear up for an adoption option or so Spielberg can rush out a movie about it.

Here's a JREF exclusive. First picture of North Korean vessel being tracked: