The United States is apparently watching several North Korean ships apart from the Kangnam now being tracked for suspected violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1874. When questioned on the matter Wednesday, U.S. Defense Department spokesman Geoff Morrell said, "As far as I know, it's the only ship that we have tracked like this. There are other -- there are -- we have had interest in many ships over the years coming out of North Korea."

"The U.S. Navy has been instructed to monitor all ships that leave North Korea for foreign countries," a senior U.S. diplomatic source said. As to whether the Kangnam will be inspected, spokesman Morrell said, "Well, I think that's a decision that will have to be made at some point, and not necessarily just by us or this government. But that is a decision I think we will likely take collectively with our allies and partners... whether we choose to hail and query this particular ship" and if so, when and where.

Radio Free Asia, meanwhile, reported that chances are that the Kangnam is carrying North Korean weapons and will exchange them for food in Burma. The radio quoted a former Burmese intelligence official as saying that Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister Maung Myint visited Pyongyang in May and agreed the deal.

Burmese state TV reported that a North Korean cargo ship is scheduled to arrive in a Burmese port on Saturday, carrying 8,000 tons of rice from Kolkata, India.