South Korea Delays Decision on Whether To Intercept North Korean Ships

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=2169263&C=asiapac

South Korea Oct. 11 declined to say directly whether it would join a U.S.-led move to stop and search North Korean vessels suspected of carrying weapons-related material.

Foreign Minister Bank Ki-Moon said South Korea would define its position later on the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), launched by Washington in 2003 to encourage member countries to interdict weapons shipments and other suspect cargoes.

South Korea has been reluctant to take part in the initiative because of concerns that it would provoke the North.

But it came under pressure to change its observer status in the initiative following North Korea’s declared nuclear test Oct. 9 which prompted U.N. Security Council discussions on punitive actions.