Japanese coast guard
officials say North Korea has banned ships from sailing off its east coast for
16 days starting this Thursday.
Coast guard officials say the North
Korean government sent them an e-mail warning that it will hold military drills
off its eastern port of Wonsan between Thursday and July 10.
The e-mail
did not say what consequences ships would face if they violated the ban.
The dates fall within a time frame mentioned last week by Japanese media
for a possible launch of a long-range missile toward Hawaii. The message comes
at a time of heightened tension between Pyongyang and the international
community.
A U.S. Navy destroyer, the USS John S. McCain, is tracking a North Korean
ship suspected of smuggling missiles or related parts in violation of United
Nations sanctions.
China warned Tuesday that nations tracking North
Korean ships should have ample evidence and proper cause before seeking to check
the cargo of ships.
Speaking a regular press conference Tuesday China's
Foreign Ministry spokesman said that under the current circumstances, all
parties should refrain from taking actions that could escalate the
situation.
Reports citing unidentified intelligence sources in South
Korea say the vessel, the Kang Nam, appears to be heading to Burma by way
of Singapore.
The ship is the first to be monitored under a new U.N.
Security Council resolution.
The resolution, which was adopted earlier
this month, authorizes U.N. members to inspect North Korean cargo ships for
illicit missile-related technology. North Korea has said it would consider such
inspections an act of war.
The U.S. military has not indicated any plans
to search the vessel, which belongs to a fleet that U.S. officials say has been
used in the past to transport weapons.
Some
information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.