Ship from North Korea to Burma Changes Course
by JONATHAN HARRIS, Managing Editor
On the eve of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s visit to Burma, the plot continues to thicken in regards to the secretive military regime’s relationship with North Korea.
The rogue Asian nation has helped Burma build a series of special bunkers and speculation has grown in recent weeks that North Korea could attempt to provide Burma with missiles.
Now, despite no interaction from the U.S., a plot may have been foiled.
From The Telegraph:
The Kang Nam 1, which is being monitored under new United Nations regulations to prevent the rogue state from dealing in arms, is in waters off the coast of Hong Kong.
“We’ve no idea where it’s going,” said a US official. “The US didn’t do anything to make it turn around,” he added.
South Korean newspaper reports said the ship is a known North Korean weapons trader and was probably heading for Burma.
Perhaps Burma is feeling the heat from growing international pressure to release political prisoners and Aung San Suu Kyi, the head of Burma’s National League for Democracy.
Ban will be meeting with Senior General Than Shwe tomorrow and will ask permission to visit Suu Kyi during his two-day trip.
The imprisoned leader’s trial is expected to continue tomorrow as well, and Ban has admitted the capacity for failure on his visit to Burma is great.
From The Washington Post:
“I’m visiting Myanmar with certain uncertainties,” he said.
“We must try our best to bring changes. I’ll do my best (but) I do not believe my visit should be a make-or-break event… This will be a very difficult mission.”
He said he would also press Than Shwe and Prime Minister Thein Sein to engage in “meaningful and credible dialogue” with Suu Kyi and the opposition.
It would be considered a minor victory if Ban is able even to meet with Suu Kyi, a decision which completely up to Than Shwe.
Follow @Causecast on Twitter as we keep up with the latest on Aung San Suu Kyi and Ban Ki-moon’s visit to Myanmar.
Photo by Cody McComas, flickr
- Posted by Causecast
Related causes: Human Rights
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