Singapore will take appropriate action as North Korean ship nears

belacan79

Singapore`s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had announced that Singapore, a staunch US ally, will take appropriate action as a North Korean ship suspected of carrying materials for making missiles is en route to Singapore before proceeding to the Malacca Straits and its intended destination.


WASHINGTON: A US Navy destroyer is tracking a North Korean ship possibly carrying banned cargo as part of international efforts to enforce UN sanctions against Pyongyang, a US defence official said on Friday.

The vessel, the Kang Nam, which appears to be heading in the direction of Singapore is being shadowed by the USS John S. McCain.

Responding to media queries, Singapore's Foreign Ministry said Singapore takes seriously the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and if the allegation is true, the ministry said Singapore will act appropriately.

The Kang Nam is the first ship to be monitored under a UN resolution imposed a week ago that bans arms shipments to and form North Korea, the official said.

"We are keeping an eye on that ship," the official, who asked not to be named, told AFP.

Another defence official said the North Korean ship was one of a group of vessels previously linked to illicit missile-related cargo.

It was unclear what cargo the ship was carrying in this instance but, he said: "Once a suspect, always a suspect."

US officials have yet to indicate if or when they might ask to search the vessel under the UN Security Council resolution, which bans shipments of arms and nuclear or missile technology.

The North Koreans are expected to reject any such request. But at some point, the ship will likely need to stop for refuelling along the Chinese coast or elsewhere, officials said.

At that point, the country where the ship enters port is obliged under the UN resolution to search the vessel if there are grounds for suspicion.

Pentagon officials declined to comment on a television report the Navy destroyer was heading to intercept the North Korean vessel.

The officials stressed that the UN sanctions do not authorise military force and that Washington was pursuing a diplomatic strategy.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have been running high since Pyongyang carried out its second nuclear test last month.

After the underground test and subsequent missile launches, the Security Council adopted the UN resolution last week that includes financial sanctions designed to choke off revenue to the regime.

The US military meanwhile has moved to beef up missile defences in Hawaii over fears Pyongyang may launch a rocket over the Pacific.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, citing concerns that North Korea might launch a missile towards Hawaii, said Thursday he had approved the deployment of THAAD missile defence weaponry to the Pacific island chain as a precaution.

US and South Korean officials have said North Korea might be readying another ballistic missile test after three launches in 1998, 2006 and this year.

The destroyer involved in the monitoring operation is named after the father and grandfather of Republican Senator John McCain, who was defeated by Barack Obama in last year's US presidential election.

- AFP/yb

belacan79

There is a probability that the RSN might attempt to intercept and board in concert with the USN. Bad idea for the ship to sail too close to Singapore. Unlike bigger countries with disparate forces all over the world, the full force of the RSN is in Singapore together with the RSAF. The USN is in Singapore as well.  It will encounter quite literally an armada of warships if SAF decides to mobilize. Any wrong move by the North Koreans could possibly see the ship sunk.

Singapore is an allied member of the US-led PSI group;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proliferation_Security_Initiative

Debmey

Lets rob the ship of its nukes and use them against Iran. Then there will be peace on earth.  

peace

narizman

Dubuk .. dubuk .. perangai dubuk .

mdmee

kalau North Korea nuke singapore .... abis le Johor kena sekali !!!!!!!

artificialster

Dubuk .. dubuk .. perangai dubuk .
narizman Post at 20-8-2009 21:39

Hehehe what do u expect from a US a** lic*** who drink new water everyday

cmf_nando

Lets rob the ship of its nukes and use them against Iran. Then there will be peace on earth.  

peace
Debmey Post at 22-6-2009 05:05

Why rob ? Just get one from Uncle Sam.

manusia biasa

then,if north korea counter attack singapore with their 3 phases long range nuke missile, what can the s'pore do to defense themselves ?

belacan79

then,if north korea counter attack singapore with their 3 phases long range nuke missile, what can the s'pore do to defense themselves ?
manusia biasa Post at 22-8-2009 09:58

North Korea has yet to weaponise her nuclear grade plutonium and uranium and she is simply toying with the threat for more aid from the West. Taepedong 2 is the only missile/rocket which can hit the US and by extension, most other place in the world. However, it is horribly inaccurate and can carry only a small payload. If they want to put nuke warheads at thier current capability(if they have one), the only places they can hit are South Korea and Japan. Otherwise,  you would see Singapore, Australia, Thailand, etc arming themselves with Patriots, Arrows, etc like what South Korea is doing. It is very logical.

Australia and India boarded North Korean ships for inspections as well.

Curiously, a large nuke attack in singapore would plausibly take out half of peninsula malaysia as well; be it immediate blast or radiation. lol. Radiaction would mean the end of peninsula malaysia too. Or result in massive racial and civil unrest as chaos ensues. hehe

Debmey

We have no quarrel with north korea or kim jong il.
I think we can buy small nukes from him and nuke Putra jaya.

kiuros

then you have quarrel with Putrajaya???? :@

Debmey

No problem sir. After we nuke PJ there will be no one from PJ to quarrel with us.

innocentti

12# Debmey
pffffttthhh!! forgot your pill kiddy?:re:

alphawolf

BTW that news was in June, now we're nearing the end of August...what's the story?

Debmey

RSN intercepted the ship and Singapore bought the nukes and its off the radar.
Watch out PJ.

13Friday

such a ship can raise the level of security threat in the world.

What an insecure world we live in ?

Why Putrajaya at this time as M'sia is involved with lots of terrorism within and without?

robotech

such a ship can raise the level of security threat in the world.

What an insecure world we live in ?

Why Putrajaya at this time as M'sia is involved with lots of terrorism within and without?

Ask your mommy ...

13Friday

Ask your mommy ...
robotech Post at 2-9-2009 13:07

who is this mommy???

alphawolf

SSY's mommy!

belacan79

14# alphawolf

The ship turned back and headed back to North Korea. Probably, the ship`s captain did not want to take the risk.  A USN destroyer was on the ship`s tail for quite some time.