N. Korean ship could test sanctions

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jun 24, 2009 | by Hyung-Jin Kim Associated Press

Yoon Duk-min, a professor at the state-run Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security in Seoul, predicted North Korea would allow an inspection in Singapore.

At most, Singapore may refuse to let the ship refuel, Hong said. He also speculated that the Kang Nam may not have banned cargo on board, knowing the ship could be subject to scrutiny.

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said China will "strictly observe" and implement the resolution. He urged other nations to also heed the U.N. guidelines requiring "reasonable grounds" to request an inspection.

"Under the current circumstances, we call upon all parties to refrain from acts that might escalate the tension," he said Tuesday.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Associated Press that North Korea cut off communications with the international community before the recent nuclear and missile tests.

He urged North Korea to fully comply with the Security Council resolutions and address the global concerns about its nuclear proliferation.

As a South Korean, he told the Associated Press, "I'm personally very much troubled by what has happened on the Korean peninsula."

"As secretary-general ... I'm really trying to do what I can to create the certain atmosphere where we can see the resolution of this issue," he said. "First and foremost, the six-party dialogue should be resumed and the DPRK should fully comply with all resolutions and all international community should also work together to prevent any further proliferation of nuclear materials and weapons."

Meanwhile, the U.S. and North Korea's neighbors were discussing how to deal with the increasingly defiant country.

In Beijing, U.S. and Chinese defense officials were holding their first high-level bilateral military talks in 18 months. U.S. Defense Undersecretary Michele Flournoy was to head later in the week to Tokyo and Seoul.

Washington's top military commander in South Korea, meanwhile, warned that the communist regime is bolstering its guerrilla warfare capacity.

Gen. Walter Sharp, who commands the 28,500 U.S. troops positioned in South Korea, said the North could employ roadside bombs and other guerrilla tactics if war breaks out again on the Korean peninsula. The two Koreas technically remain at war because their three-year conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, in 1953.