Is this thing on?
The U.S. military is tracking a flagged North Korean ship suspected of proliferating weapons material in violation of a U.N. Security Council resolution passed last Friday, FOX News has learned.
The ship, Kang Nam, left a port in North Korea Wednesday and appears to be heading toward Singapore, according to a senior U.S. military source. The vessel, which the military has been tracking since its departure, could be carrying weaponry, missile parts or nuclear materials.
“It is believed to be ‘of interest,’” a senior U.S. official told FOX News.
This is the first suspected “proliferator” that the U.S. and its allies have tracked from North Korea since the United Nations authorized the world’s navies to enforce compliance with a variety of U.N. sanctions aimed at punishing North Korea for its recent nuclear test…
North Korea has said that any attempt to board its ships would be viewed as an act of war and promised “100- or 1,000-fold” retaliation if provoked.
So, if we board the Kang Nam, the Norks are going to board 100 or a thousand US flagged ships?
That would be interesting.
In possibly related news, SecDef has ordered the deployment of theater high altitude defense systems. To Hawaii.
Update: Guess what ship is set to intercept the Kang Nam? The USS John McCain.
And here’s a little interesting tid-bit about her skipper:
Commander Kim was born in Seoul, Korea. He immigrated with his family to the United States and grew up near San Francisco in Albany, California. He was commissioned as an Ensign in 1991 through the Naval ROTC program at MIT, and has served in various seagoing assignments as a Surface Warfare Officer.
McCain‘s XO served as an instructor at the ROK naval academy.
Wow.
Will this be the first test of Obama’s “Ask, don’t tell” policy on VBSS?
So, if we board the Kang Nam, the Norks are going to board 100 or a thousand US flagged ships?
More like a hundred or thousand artillery rounds to light up the drearier parts of downtown Seoul…
- THAAD’s only part of the (current) solution set.
- SJS
I think Kim Jong-il has continued to build his military and before he dies wants to “play” with it on a broad scale.
Somebody help me get this straight, cuz I’m confused (ya know O2 deprivation at altitude for all those years according to my wife), so we’re staring down the NORKs and moving ABM stuff to Hawaii, but now this is where I’m confused, congress just voted to decrease funding for missile defense . What? On account of how well everything works since we’ve shot down so many inbounds right? Something just doesn’t add up in Sheboygan.
G-man/
Doesn’t add up in Manitowoc, either.
But you’re wrong, “Congress” didn’t, hasn’t yet so voted. It’s OBAMA’s (and his toady Gates) Defense budget submission that’s made such proposals. I hope the NORKs DO launch toward Hawaii–will encourage Congress to reinstate the funds. Besides, didn’t Hawaii vote heavily Democratic? Serves ‘em right. As one wag commenting over at Luciannes and looking on the bright side said: “Now we won’t need candles at night for the beach–they’ll all be glowing in the dark.” LOL!!
I’m so glad I live here. Because life just gets better and better. /sarcasm
Good luck to the ship and crew of the John McCain. Clearly the last chance we have to stop this madness. I would say that the second a missle is confirmed to have taken off from North Korea the launch pad and all ancillary sites should be glassed.
Do we even have 1000 US flagged ships in our Merchant Marine?
Kevin/
Wiki says a massive grand total of 465.
But as many here know or will understand, there are but 283 deployable battle force ships (134 ships, 33 subs underway away from homeport; 114 ships and 26 subs on deployment).
Used to be opsec info, now it’s search results at Navy.mil, Status of the Navy.
…and no, I can’t make the math work on the counts either. Torture numbers long enough and they’ll confess to anything.
Alignment, eh?
That little screwball provides the justification to bring back the policy of “massive retaliation”. For those that have forgotten or never heard of that policy please “Google” it.
Fat chance as long as our policy to deal with enemies (Persians, too!) is best captured by this pic:
http://atthebirds.gsbreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/man-with-head-in-sand.gif
b2
b2/
Is it possible to have your head in the sand and whistle past the graveyard at the same time? If so, Obama’s undoubtedly the man to accomplish it.
VX,
Obama’s policies have finally reached the point where they defy the laws of natures. He’s managed to create an administration that sucks and blows at the same time.
Great “coincidence” on the Skipper being of Korean ancestry. I like it! (His BIO states a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT. I guess those glasses explain why he’s wearing Water Wings.)
Good luck to CDR Kim!
He was commissioned as an Ensign in 1991 through the Naval ROTC program at MIT, and has served in various seagoing assignments as a Surface Warfare Officer.
Well, at least this situation is in competent hands. Now if his ship’s radio could contrive to break for a couple of weeks so that he’s forced to act on his own initiative and judgement instead of having to listen to Washington perhaps this matter can be properly dealt with.
When he took command, C7F PAO folks made a big deal of JSM’s first Korean port visit ( I thik it was Pusan or Chinhae).
Skippy
Interesting neh? that the USN at least got CDR Kim in the right sphere of potential influence. Woulda figured him to be doing Baltops or some other terribly important duty based on past events. Poetic justice and all that a SOK could possibly take out a NORK.
High Stakes Poker: I’ll call your Kim and raise you one.
The qualifications of the CO and XO of USS John S. McCain inspire great confidence and reflect likely keen insights into the cultural and geopolitical aspects of the situation.
Unfortunately the qualifications of the Commander in Chief fail to as much confidence, to cope with this or other issues facing our country today.
May God grant them all the wisdom and insight to do the right thing at the right time.
And, don’t forget this is a United Nations mission they are on. What could possibly go wrong?
Especially since McCain is a BMD ship -and so spends a lot of time tethered to the Sea of Japan. Er, excuse me, East Sea………
Both Koreas don’t seem to like calling it by its proper name. Maybe its the only thing they agree on.
” Don’t say Dokdo to me! Say Takeshima!”