Asia Times

Korea

Australia proposes naval blockade

SYDNEY - Australian officials are holding talks with the United States about committing the Australian navy to a new interception mission to block North Korean vessels suspected of carrying missiles and other contraband, it was reported on Wednesday.

The Sydney Morning Herald said Australian support would be given for an interception fleet to stop Pyongyang shipping cargo such as drugs and counterfeit money to prop up North Korea's ravaged economy.

Ashton Calvert, secretary of Australia's Foreign Affairs and Trade Department, met with US officials in Tokyo on Tuesday night, the Herald said.

The communist state confirmed this week that it was seeking nuclear weapons and Washington has flagged a policy of "selective interdiction" to contain North Korea.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer has discussed the plan with his Japanese counterparts and lower-level officials in the United States, the Herald reported.

"There has been quite a lot of discussion going on about it [the interdiction option] already," an Australian official told the newspaper. "It's still quite early, though. Obviously, there could be considerable issues for defense but there could also be a decision to keep defense out of it and rely on intelligence and customs or the coast guard instead."

The Australian navy boasts extensive experience in intercepting vessels, having commanded the multinational naval contingent enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq for long periods. Its Collins-class submarines could collect intelligence with powerful communications detection and interception equipment, and be usefully deployed to the region, the Herald said.

(Asia Pulse)

Jun 12, 2003

Affiliates
Click here to be one)

No material from Asia Times Online may be republished in any form without written permission.

Privacy and Legal Policies