White House: US may confront ships near NKorea

Dantheman62 · 06-13-2009, 12:48 AM

By CHARLES BABINGTON, Associated Press Writer Charles Babington, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 9 mins ago

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration said Friday it is prepared to confront ships believed to be carrying contraband materials to North Korea but will not try to forcibly board them, in accordance with new U.N. sanctions.

White House officials said they expect North Korea to act "irresponsibly" to the sanctions, imposed Friday by the U.N. Security Council in response to the communist nation's recent nuclear tests. The sanctions include expanding an arms embargo and authorizing searches of ships thought to be carrying banned items to North Korea, such as materials that could be used in weapons.

Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said U.S. officials would seek permission to board such ships to inspect them. If they refuse, she said, the United States will try to work with the ship's home nation "and others to direct that vessel to an appropriate port for the mandatory inspection" outlined in the U.N. sanctions.

If a ship refuses to be diverted, Rice said, U.S. officials "will take all necessary action" to publicize its ownership, what it is thought to be carrying and other information. The goal, she said, it "to shine a spotlight on it" and make it more difficult for others to help the ship complete its journey, such as refueling it.

Rice also said the United States will "ramp up and intensify" its efforts to gather and disseminate information about suspect ships. Other nations, she said, must "uphold their obligations to inspect in their territorial waters."

Rice said she would not be surprised if North Korea reacted to the sanctions with "further provocation."

"There's reason to believe they may respond in an irresponsible fashion to this," she said. But she said she expects the sanctions to have significant impact on North Korea's financing of its weapons and missile systems.

Rice said the administration was "very pleased" with the sanctions. She called the new resolution, which was supported by China and Russia, an "unprecedented" position by the Security Council.

The United States and many other nations, including China and Russia, have condemned North Korea for its underground nuclear test on May 25 and a series of ground-to-air missile test firings.

Rice said that Iran — another nation at deep odds with the United States about a disputed nuclear program — should take a message from how the U.N. responded to North Korea's actions.

"I imagine that they have been following this closely," Rice said of Iran's leaders. She said Iran should see that "the response from the international community has been very clear, very firm and very meaningful."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090612/...e/us_us_nkorea

mntruthseeker · 06-13-2009, 01:03 AM

Its hard trying to be nice Dan

I had to erase my comments to keep me "in line" LOL

Dantheman62 · 06-13-2009, 01:33 AM

Yeah, I know what you mean!

06-13-2009, 12:48 AM	#1
Dantheman62 Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: So. Cal. U.S. Posts: 4,205	White House: US may confront ships near NKorea By CHARLES BABINGTON, Associated Press Writer Charles Babington, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 9 mins ago WASHINGTON – The Obama administration said Friday it is prepared to confront ships believed to be carrying contraband materials to North Korea but will not try to forcibly board them, in accordance with new U.N. sanctions. White House officials said they expect North Korea to act "irresponsibly" to the sanctions, imposed Friday by the U.N. Security Council in response to the communist nation's recent nuclear tests. The sanctions include expanding an arms embargo and authorizing searches of ships thought to be carrying banned items to North Korea, such as materials that could be used in weapons. Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said U.S. officials would seek permission to board such ships to inspect them. If they refuse, she said, the United States will try to work with the ship's home nation "and others to direct that vessel to an appropriate port for the mandatory inspection" outlined in the U.N. sanctions. If a ship refuses to be diverted, Rice said, U.S. officials "will take all necessary action" to publicize its ownership, what it is thought to be carrying and other information. The goal, she said, it "to shine a spotlight on it" and make it more difficult for others to help the ship complete its journey, such as refueling it. Rice also said the United States will "ramp up and intensify" its efforts to gather and disseminate information about suspect ships. Other nations, she said, must "uphold their obligations to inspect in their territorial waters." Rice said she would not be surprised if North Korea reacted to the sanctions with "further provocation." "There's reason to believe they may respond in an irresponsible fashion to this," she said. But she said she expects the sanctions to have significant impact on North Korea's financing of its weapons and missile systems. Rice said the administration was "very pleased" with the sanctions. She called the new resolution, which was supported by China and Russia, an "unprecedented" position by the Security Council. The United States and many other nations, including China and Russia, have condemned North Korea for its underground nuclear test on May 25 and a series of ground-to-air missile test firings. Rice said that Iran — another nation at deep odds with the United States about a disputed nuclear program — should take a message from how the U.N. responded to North Korea's actions. "I imagine that they have been following this closely," Rice said of Iran's leaders. She said Iran should see that "the response from the international community has been very clear, very firm and very meaningful." http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090612/...e/us_us_nkorea

06-13-2009, 01:03 AM	#2
mntruthseeker Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,482	Re: White House: US may confront ships near NKorea Its hard trying to be nice Dan I had to erase my comments to keep me "in line" LOL

06-13-2009, 01:33 AM	#3
Dantheman62 Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: So. Cal. U.S. Posts: 4,205	Re: White House: US may confront ships near NKorea Yeah, I know what you mean!