Source: Military watching suspicious NKorea ship

[June 19, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. officials say the military is tracking a ship from North Korea, the first vessel monitored under the new United Nations nonproliferation resolution.

Two officials say the Kang Nam is being monitored in the Pacific Ocean since it left North Korea on Wednesday. The officials say it is uncertain what the ship is carrying, though it believed to have been involved in weapons proliferation in the past.

They spoke on condition of anonymity to speak about intelligence.

The new U.N. resolution allows the international community to ask for permission to board any ships suspected of carrying weapons, nuclear material or missile parts. If no permission is granted the ship can be followed to its next port for inspection.

[Associated Press; By PAULINE JELINEK]

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