Intercepting ships on high Seas bound for North Korea would be a Act of War - Japanese Defense Ministry

Reuters Reports that Japanese Defense Ministry acknowledges that the United Nations is unlikely to strengthen sanctions against North Korea making inspections on high sea possible.

From the viewpoint of the country in question, that would be an act of war,” he said, referring to North Korea.

A Japanese ruling party lawmaker briefed by the government said discussions with the United States were focused on the need for stepped up cooperation on surveillance and information-sharing between Washington, Tokyo and Seoul regarding ship-to-ship transfers suspected of violating sanctions, and on the need to notify authorities in ports of origin.

The lawmaker as well as a Japanese defense ministry official involved in policy planning said that under current U.N. sanctions, the agreement of the flag state and ship captain was necessary to conduct inspections on the high seas.

“I think it is unlikely that the U.N. will strengthen the sanctions so that inspections on high seas are possible without agreement,” the Japanese defense official said.

“From the viewpoint of the country in question, that would be an act of war,” he said, referring to North Korea.



SOURCE: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-north-korea-missiles-ships-exclusive/exclusive-u-s-prepares-high-seas-crackdown-on-north-korea-sanctions-evaders-sources-idUSKCN1G72UY