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US Steps Up Navy Challenges Against N. Korea

Obama orders military to stop rogue state's ships for inspection

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 16, 2009 6:15 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The Obama administration will instruct the Navy to attempt to inspect North Korean ships suspected of carrying arms or nuclear technology—but it will stop short of boarding them by force. The new effort to track North Korean ships is a component of America's "vigorous enforcement" of a UN Security Council resolution in the wake of the country's most recent nuclear test. It's the most aggressive approach on North Korea taken in years, reports the New York Times.

Pyongyang had warned that any forced inspection of its naval fleet would be tantamount to an act of war, and the Obama team's new plans do not breach that line. But the Navy will be ordered to report any ship that refuses inspection to the Security Council. Administration officials say they're hopeful that China will also help the effort. "China would not have signed on to this resolution unless they intended to enforce it," said one official.

Tens of thousands of North Koreans rallied in Pyongyang yesterday to condemn the UN rebuke of the country's latest nuclear test amid concern the communist regime could conduct another one.
Tens of thousands of North Koreans rallied in Pyongyang yesterday to condemn the UN rebuke of the country's latest nuclear test amid concern the communist regime could conduct another one.   (AP Photo/Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service)
South Korean Navy patrol boats engage in an exercise in the West Sea, South Korea, yesterday.
South Korean Navy patrol boats engage in an exercise in the West Sea, South Korea, yesterday.   (AP Photo/Yonhap, Shin Young-gun)
Protesters rally against North Korea's nuclear and missile programs in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday.
Protesters rally against North Korea's nuclear and missile programs in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday.   (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 15 comments
Fondue
Jun 16, 2009 12:42 PM CDT
city of sand = Baghdad; attack a challenge = attack N.K.
Doctor-Zaius
Jun 16, 2009 12:40 PM CDT
NK is just flexing its muscles (however puny they are) because KJI is dying. They don't want to be seen as leaderless and weak. Once the transition of power is complete and KJI goes off to wherever evil dictators go, things will settle down. I don't expect this to escalate.
Rob
Jun 16, 2009 12:07 PM CDT
No it isn't. But I have the feeling that NK would stir the pot no matter what the response. The fact that there is no "destiny" involved with these actions as predetermined steps to an Armageddon make this all the more difficult to understand.

The US, South Korea, and the threat of the North
Baltimore Sun

World • Politics • US

 
North Korea • Navy • ship • nuclear weapons • inspection • US Navy • UN Security Council • Obama administration

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