Oh, I believe it's a test....just not on that ship. More likely, it's a proverbial dry run to see what our response would be.
Also, it doesn't require any space in the hold to transport plutonium, which the NKs have as a byproduct of their reactor. They could be smuggling it anywhere on that ship. As another poster recommended, a radioactive sweep would be a wise thing to do.
Theoretically, they could also be picking up, instead of dropping off. Perhaps the NK fizzle test required a new supply of nuclear material in the form of enriched uranium. They could also be comparing notes, since the Taepo Dong and Shahab are both based on Scud technology.
Good clues. I'm so tired I can't think but I see this is not an innocent early winter cruise to Iran and back. Thanks
They could have discharged their cargo upon being sighted ... but if the cargo was plutonium, there might still be radioactivity in the ship ... and an Indian or US submarine might troll the waters where the ship was sighted on the possibility that any discharged cargo could be discovered.