Posted on 06/19/2009 6:08:19 PM PDT by Steelfish
Pictured: The massive floating destroyer the Americans are sending to keep North Korean missiles at bay
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER 19th June 2009
USS John McCain: The destroyer has been deployed to intercept a North Korean vessel suspected of carrying illicit weapons
The U.S. military is planning to intercept a North Korean ship suspected of carrying illicit nuclear materials and missiles.
Navy destroyer the USS John McCain has been deployed to intercept the Kang Nam as it leaves the coast of China, according to a senior US defence official.
The ship, which left a port in North Korea on Wednesday, appears to be heading towards Singapore.
Its suspected cargo is in violation of a UN Security Council resolution passed last Friday, and it is now being constantly monitored by air.
The Kang Nam is the first ship the U.S. has tracked from North Korea since the UN imposed sanctions following the country's recent nuclear test.
The resolution bans North Korea from exporting a wide range of weaponry - but does not allow the US to forcibly board the vessel.
Instead, they would have to ask for permission - which, in all likelihood, would not be granted.
North Korea has already stated that any attempt to board its ships without permisson would be viewed as an act of war.
It promised '100- or 1,000-fold' retaliation if provoked.
The latest tension follows a recent report in Japan's Yomiuri newspaper that North Korea may fire a long-range ballistic missile toward Hawaii in early July.
The Taepodong-2 missile has a range of 4,000 miles, but even though Hawaii is 4500 miles away, the US has already deployed anti-missile defences around the state.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Seems McQueeg forgot how to be an American. The Phony in Chief will nothing because he knows nothing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.