Newsmakers

US Navy intercepted DPRK ship:report

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-06-13 15:41

The presidential adviser Gary Samore lobbied Asian nations to pressure DPRK. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON -- The US Navy intercepted a Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) ship suspected of carrying an illegal shipment of missile parts to Myanmar two weeks ago, the New York Times reported on late on Sunday, citing senior American officials.

The DPRK cargo ship was forced to return home after a standoff at sea and several days of diplomatic pressure from Washington and Asian nations, the newspaper reported.

Officials for the US Navy and the State Department were not immediately available for comment late on Sunday.

UN sanctions imposed on DPRK after it conducted nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009 include a ban on trade in nuclear and missile technology with DPRK. A UN resolution adopted last year authorized UN member states to inspect DPRK's sea, air and land cargo.

According to the Times, the destroyer USS McCampbell caught up with the cargo ship M/V Light south of Shanghai on May 26 after American officials began tracking the vessel, which was believed to have been involved in previous illegal shipments.

The destroyer asked to board the vessel under authority given by Belize, but the Koreans refused, the Times said.