I suspect that other posters that feel it is a set up in which Kim hopes the ship is boarded are right. It does seem familiar to the early 1960's when we all expected a very nasty nuclear war. The Russians are so quiet that one has to suspect they are gaging their opportunities. I don't think the Chinese are yet ready for a shooting war with us but they may well be enjoying the problems Mr. Kim is causing the Japanese and ourselves. The South Korean government is clearly in an internal battle with the sunshiners wanting to celebrate the "achievements" of the north and most of the people going our direction.
One U.S. military official said the ship had been known in the past to carry military equipment, but that the U.S. had no idea of the nature of its current cargo.
The ship left a port southwest of the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
A second official with access to U.S. intelligence confirmed the ship had left port and was being tracked, but cautioned he was not aware of any evidence the ship was carrying contraband.
"It's not necessarily nefarious," the second official said.
Officials said it was unlikely the U.S. would attempt to board or inspect the ship on the high seas, because it had no evidence it was violating U.N. sanctions banning the export of material that could be used to make weapons of mass destruction.
But one official suggested the U.S. government would likely press for a full inspection of the ship's cargo once it puts into port.