Editorial
Bangkok Post
July 10, 2009
The long slow voyage of the North Korean tramp steamer Kang Nam 1 has ended right where it began. In a Pacific trip of more than two weeks, the North Korean vessel made no port calls as it sailed from Wimpo to the waters of our region, and back. Ship and crew never touched land, dock or offshore berth. Pyongyang officials have not commented, but for most of the rest of the world, this oceanic "dry run" should be rated as one of the most successful delivery trips ever. United Nations sanctions and the US diplomatic strategy of President Barack Obama deserve the credit.
The trip of the Kang Nam was the first test of new and stronger prohibitions slapped on the North Korean regime. In a rare, unanimous vote, the UN Security Council took note of an underground nuclear test by North Korea last month, and ballistic missile firings in April. The stronger sanctions specifically authorised all UN members to follow any North Korean transport suspected of carrying arms, weapons parts or banned technology. They do not permit boarding of vessels on the high seas - an act of war - but that played into Mr Obama's hands.
When satellites indicated the Kang Nam was loading weapons bound for its fellow rogue regime in Burma, a US destroyer waited for the vessel in international waters. As the Kang Nam sailed, the Americans followed, usually staying within sight and reminding the North Koreans of surveillance. The original voyage was to take the ship to Singapore for refuelling, and then on to Burma. Mr Obama's administration contacted countries along the voyage path, winning agreement from each that customs officials would conduct a thorough search if the Kang Nam stopped in their waters.
With no way to hide and nowhere to run, the Kang Nam headed back to North Korea. On a one-time basis, that made the sanctions a success. But Pyongyang, if anything, has become more recalcitrant. While its cargo ship sailed to nowhere, the regime fired seven more ballistic missiles. It also promised a nuclear test for July 4, the US national day, although that turned out to be mere bluster. It will probably try to ship its cargo by land to Burma, and China must be prepared to intercept any contraband.
In fact, UN members now must put even more effort into enforcing the sanctions on North Korea. At the same time, they must remind Kim Jong-Il how to get out of its isolation through talks. The six-party commission on North Korea is ready to meet. And the Koreans should join the Asean-sponsored talks in Phuket, where many other members of the Regional Forum will tell them to stop their senseless nuclear weapons armament.
While the Obama administration has helped to elevate the overall North Korean intransigence from unilateral threats of violence to international diplomacy, there is a more urgent concern in this region. North Korea and the unfriendly regime in Burma are up to something, and are trying to hide it. North Korean advisers have been photographed at the sites of massive construction work in Burma. There are fears that Pyongyang is building a nuclear site in secret, or even mining uranium.
This unholy alliance of Burma and North Korea is a regional threat because of its secrecy. If Rangoon is buying major weapons systems from Pyongyang, as the Kang Nam incident indicated, Asean must be told. North Korea certainly has no right to draw this part of the world into its nuclear trafficking. The UN must continue efforts to thwart such divisive secrecy.
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