Did Kim blink?
posted at 12:55 pm on July 1, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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After having the US Navy on its tail for two weeks, the North Korean merchant ship Kang Nam has begun circling back to the Korean Peninsula rather than keep going towards Burma, its presumed destination. The reversal could put off a potentially incendiary confrontation, as the US may have decided to board the ship to look for illegal weapons had it pulled into port. Did Kim blink?
A North Korean ship monitored for more than a week by the U.S. Navy has changed course and is heading back the way it came, U.S. officials said, as Pyongyang warned Wednesday it will take military action if anyone attempts to search its vessels.
The Kang Nam 1 — originally believed to be bound for Myanmar with suspicious cargo on board, possibly illicit weapons — turned around and headed back north on Sunday, two U.S. officials said on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence.
The U.S. officials, speaking in Washington on Tuesday, said they do not know where the ship is going. But it was some 250 miles (400 kilometers) south of Hong Kong on Tuesday and heading north, one official said.
The North Korean ship is the first vessel monitored under U.N. sanctions aimed at punishing the regime for conducting an underground nuclear test in May.
Kim had threatened to rain nuclear retaliation for any unfriendly act by the US or anyone else, and had specifically and explicitly warned that a seizure of the ship would be considered an act of war. The US kept up its pressure, keeping its vessels within interception distance of the Kang Nam, just in case we decided to intervene. At least for now, it looks as though that was enough to call Kim’s bluff and send the ship back home.
If so, then Obama deserves credit for winning this round. Had Kim forced his hand, would Obama have stopped the Kang Nam? Kim apparently thought so, or perhaps his military did, and maybe the military doesn’t want a war with the US at the moment. That kind of pressure could force a crack between the dictator and the military, which could end the Kim dynasty after Kim dies — or perhaps even sooner.
We’ll have to see what comes next, but at least for the moment, it looks like Kim blinked, and that Obama played it right.
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He is just messing with us.
Firebird on July 1, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Maybe we cut Kim in on some of the Cap’N'Trade action?
myrenovations on July 1, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Bullies always blink when faced with real consequences. Now if we shot down just one of his missiles after launch we could put an end to that too.
dpierson on July 1, 2009 at 12:59 PM
The captain of the NK ship just realized he left the water running at home.
Daggett on July 1, 2009 at 1:00 PM
I don’t trust Obama enough to say he did right. For all we know he gave up something in secret. It may also be that NK figures it will have enough with it’s nuke program to sell/barter/threaten with and best not provoke anyone now and risk losing what they will soon have.
aikidoka on July 1, 2009 at 1:00 PM
I find it impossible to give Hussein O. this much credit for something that is truly above his pay grade.
pcpower1 on July 1, 2009 at 1:00 PM
Maybe we’ll get lucky and they’re going to pick up Cynthia McKinney?
Knucklehead on July 1, 2009 at 1:01 PM
DO NOT Underestimate Kim.
The guy has something up his sleeve.
I don’t trust him.. nor should anyone around the world right now.
upinak on July 1, 2009 at 1:01 PM
If so, it was completely by accident.
tru2tx on July 1, 2009 at 1:02 PM
How much did it cost us?
canditaylor68 on July 1, 2009 at 1:02 PM
If he did, it’s probably because he got a phone call from Beijing. I seriously doubt he’s afraid of President Urkel.
thirteen28 on July 1, 2009 at 1:02 PM
BTW they are now “in range”.
What day is this BTW…. I wouldn’t blink until afterwards.
upinak on July 1, 2009 at 1:02 PM
No don’t trust him. Stare him straight in the face and make him understand what the consequences of his actions would be. But no-one in the last 4 administrations has done anything to do that to him or his father. We have been the perfect enablers for his behavior.
dpierson on July 1, 2009 at 1:03 PM
barry saved the day?
moonbatkiller on July 1, 2009 at 1:03 PM
He blinked, but it doesn’t mean he won’t continue being a little twit.
He says any messing around with NK ships will be an act of war as his ship with the illegal arms skitters back to a NK port.
He’s a little mentally deficient turd, but he’s had enough time in power to brainwash enough generations that even if we invaded and freed these people they’d go right back to the same sort of government and tyranny they’re in right now.
Best to just keep harassing the ships, keep the defenses up, but otherwise ignore the little dingleberry.
Spiritk9 on July 1, 2009 at 1:03 PM
My guess?
Kang Nam, a vessel known to be used to violate weapons shipments, was used this time as a diversion and that said diversion needed to draw 2 US ships away from another ship leaving port.
Instead of waiting for a Christmas suprise Kim has said we only have to wait til the 4th. Magnanimous of him. Americans love opening presents.
journeyintothewhirlwind on July 1, 2009 at 1:04 PM
Maybe our missile test the other day, when we hit a postage stamp from 4,200 miles, factored into his thinking.
Akzed on July 1, 2009 at 1:04 PM
This was Gates, folks, not The Won.
It takes a Bushite to get it right.
either orr on July 1, 2009 at 1:04 PM
I smell a conspiracy.
Nonfactor on July 1, 2009 at 1:05 PM
That is a BIG just in case….I don’t think Obama would have done it…He talks a big talk, but….
cmsinaz on July 1, 2009 at 1:05 PM
I also look forward to how many different excuses there are to not give President Obama any credit for this.
Nonfactor on July 1, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Or Burma, deciding it did not want to get in the middle of this, cancelled their arms order.
Romeo13 on July 1, 2009 at 1:06 PM
This is a good post, Ed, but it would also be good of you to note that, at best, you were too harsh on Obama in this post: http://hotair.com/archives/2009/06/26/us-wont-use-force-to-inspect-noko-ship/.
You specifically criticized Obama’s actions on this matter, claiming that it was weak and strengthened Kim’s position:
In fact, the same success that you wanted was achieved without have to risk a showdown, or worse, a war. It would be gracious if you would comment on this as well.
tneloms on July 1, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Did Kim blink?
No.
He was testing the waters, or, more likely, was using the Kang Nam 1 as a decoy.
Back in the 90’s NK sent the Teadongaekuk Ho (might have been the Mupo) out to sea, announcing that it was carrying missiles and such to a hostile Middle Eastern nation…and our Navy started shadowing the ship, while the UN dithered, until the ship pulled in to Bandar Abbas. It was found to be carrying cement and agricultural materials. In the meantime, another NK ship transited the Suez and made landfall in Libya, carrying missiles and other military hardware.
The NK’s don’t have a lot of cash…unless the make it themselves…and sending the Kang Nam 1 to Burma cost money…why would the Kang Nam 1 reverse course just off the Burma coast? Might wish to check Lloyd’s or other registries to see if any other NK ships have pulled into other ports, such as Latakia or Bandar Abbas in the past day or so.
coldwarrior on July 1, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Only children seek accolades for doing their duty.
Akzed on July 1, 2009 at 1:07 PM
bho likely promised him enriched uranium just to stop screwing up his agenda to get these sheeple fleeced before they wake up.
screwauger on July 1, 2009 at 1:07 PM
We avoided a confrontation, and all the risks associated with it. We got what we wanted. What do you think it cost us?
tneloms on July 1, 2009 at 1:08 PM
And we still have.
Obama won’t do anything concerning NoKo on this. Even if there was a “Boom”.
upinak on July 1, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Dear Leader only got tough because 1) He wants the “Dear Leader” label all for Himself and 2) Li’l Kim threatened Hawaii.
rbj on July 1, 2009 at 1:10 PM
That’s also quite a theory.
Chaz706 on July 1, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Yes he deserves credit for this one, but Kim could have easily called Obama’s bluff. I don’t believe Obama would have boarded that ship.
jonezee on July 1, 2009 at 1:12 PM
In other words, apart from the crew and possibly a few people in North Korea, nobody has any significant information about this ship other than knowning that it departed from North Korea and that it has made an unexpected change of course.
For all anyone knows the ship was on a perfectly innocent crew training exercise, or it was a decoy or a test to see how the world would react.
YiZhangZhe on July 1, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Nope. This was a “I have a bracelet too!” moment. On Monday, early in the morning, we shot off a missile at the Marshall Islands. Testing or something. LOL! And that could have been pulled off by Gates, or others with testicles somewhere lurking around Washington. Do not want to give too much credit to Gates just yet. And add to this the fact that other countries have refused to let them dock. THAT could be where this took the turn. The world knows lil Kim is batty and they do not want any part of nuclear type materials in their ports.
freeus on July 1, 2009 at 1:12 PM
No. Looks more like bait not taken. This time The Obama’s reluctance to make a decision worked in his favor. He was lucky.
Skandia Recluse on July 1, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Good point.
tru2tx on July 1, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Burma, with Russian technical assistance and money, and Nk and Chinese technical aid, has been building its own nuclear capability for the past several years…all of it a peaceful nuclear reactor designed to alleviate Burma’s need for electric power, of course.
coldwarrior on July 1, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Kim should be ignored or killed if necessary. Assassination of heads of state should be very much on the table. It’s immoral to send Am. soldiers into combat, without first trying to take out the enemy head of state imo.
JiangxiDad on July 1, 2009 at 1:17 PM
er, it should be worth mentioning that BURMA made it public that they would inspect the ship if it docked there; so really the JUNTA made kim blink …
/jus’ sayin’ …
Buckaroo on July 1, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Obama must have given him the evil eye.
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on July 1, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Di
How could we tell?
This ship should be at the bottom of the ocean along with its crew.
Why we are allowing lunatic regimes to continue to develop and distribute WMDs I’ll never know. When one of our cities go up, taking the cautious approach is going to look like one of the worst moves in history.
NoDonkey on July 1, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Mr. Obama did what he always has done and will do. He voted “present” ordering the US navy to shadow the NK ship hoping nothing bad would happen and thankfully, this time, nothing has. Would he have ordered the boarding of the ship if push came to shove? I don’t know. His decision on the Somali pirates was slow and seemed almost bumbling to me despite the good outcome. Yet, he has acted contrary to USA interests on many fronts, domestically and internationally so at this point have no trust in the man to keep us safe and make hard decisions. “Present” might have worked this time. It may not the next.
Miss Molly on July 1, 2009 at 1:24 PM
I think the UN Security Council will be taking the credit for this one.
moonsbreath on July 1, 2009 at 1:25 PM
The 4th of July is just around the corner. Is he returning the ship knowing we are shadowing to draw a US naval ship within range of his announced missle launch ?
RUReadingthis on July 1, 2009 at 1:25 PM
tneloms:
Post hoc ergo propter hoc.
Unless Kim comes out and tells us why the order was given – and tells us the truth, which would be unusual – we’re not going to know whether anything the President said (publicly or back-channel) influenced an order to turn the ship around.
Maybe the captain did leave the water running ….
BD57 on July 1, 2009 at 1:27 PM
Forgot his American Express card.
coldwarrior on July 1, 2009 at 1:29 PM
coldwarrior on July 1, 2009 at 1:06 PM
This is why I get excited when I see that you have posted. You always have great information and analysis. Thank you.
myrenovations on July 1, 2009 at 1:30 PM
You’re exactly right. Obama’s 15 minutes of “present” are about up.
moonsbreath on July 1, 2009 at 1:30 PM
OMG. Ogabe is on TV again.
Somebody pluck out my eyes.
fogw on July 1, 2009 at 1:32 PM
OR… /puts on his tinfoil hat…
The Fake bonds which were being smuggled into Switzerland a couple of weeks ago were there to fund certain activitys…
But, because they were intercepted the funds are no longer available.
Romeo13 on July 1, 2009 at 1:33 PM
fogw on July 1, 2009 at 1:32 PM
NCIS Marathon on USA again. If you’re going to watch fiction, it might as well be believable fiction.
kingsjester on July 1, 2009 at 1:33 PM
With Billy Mays passing, is Bammy taking up the slack?
With Assholerod’s help, Bammy could sell our country out for only $19.95 (plus shipping and handling).
NoDonkey on July 1, 2009 at 1:34 PM
No.
For Obama’s support in Honduras, Chavez got Kim to back off.
Skywise on July 1, 2009 at 1:34 PM
DO NOT Underestimate
KimBozo.The guy has something up his sleeve.
I don’t trust him.. nor should anyone around the world right now.
upinak on July 1, 2009 at 1:01 PM
OT, Bozo is holding an on-line healthcare townhall. Seriously, he is beyond a narcassist. He never does anything that doesn’t involve the limelight. GEEZ!
txag92 on July 1, 2009 at 1:36 PM
He is using his strawman meme again….Ugh
cmsinaz on July 1, 2009 at 1:36 PM
fogw on July 1, 2009 at 1:32 PM
NCIS Marathon on USA again. If you’re going to watch fiction, it might as well be believable fiction.
kingsjester on July 1, 2009 at 1:33 PM
The Discovery Channel is running a “Pitchman” marathon in honor of Billy Mays.
txag92 on July 1, 2009 at 1:37 PM
That’s a very good theory… one I’ll give credance too.
Chaz706 on July 1, 2009 at 1:37 PM
He is using his strawman meme again….Ugh
cmsinaz on July 1, 2009 at 1:36 PM
You’re listening? How can you do that?
fogw on July 1, 2009 at 1:39 PM
txag92 on July 1, 2009 at 1:37 PM
I just scanned Obama on Fox. It said he stated that “We’re going to pass Healthcare Reform this year.” He forgot to add “Even if the country doesn’t want it.”
kingsjester on July 1, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Let’s see if they still shoot it Hawai’i on the 4th.
BTW it looks like O’bama is spending his summer vacation in a different place this year-Martha’s Vineyard.
He’ll probably have Jeanne-Claude Kerri and Mama T pop over from TUK for drinkie-poos and burgers. Mama T. will bring the raisins and the gin. And of course the ketchup.
Del Dolemonte on July 1, 2009 at 1:40 PM
The AP is reporting:
“According to a document outlining a recently discovered covert operation called ‘Operation Undermine,’ members of the Congressional Progressives Caucus were to be slipped into NK’s capital some time in July to covertly introduce legislation similar to the Obama Plan being enacted in the US. Unfortunately, parts of the plan were leaked to members of the ruling People’s Party who found the provisions too radical. The plan was scrapped and the CPC returned to DC to continue their overt operations there.”
mankai on July 1, 2009 at 1:42 PM
After seeing the limp reaction of the Flyswatter-in-Chief, Burma upped its order for weapons. The Kang Nam is going back to get them.
Cicero43 on July 1, 2009 at 1:42 PM
txag92 on July 1, 2009 at 1:37 PM
I just scanned Obama on Fox. It said he stated that “We’re going to pass Healthcare Reform this year.” He forgot to add “Even if the country doesn’t want it.”
kingsjester on July 1, 2009 at 1:40 PM
He doesn’t care about anyone but himself so I’m not surprised. Now with Stuart Smalley in the Senate, the circus will get even more weird and out of control.
txag92 on July 1, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Agreed. Simply a “test” to see if anyone would stop it and give NK a reason to up the ante.
Probably nothing important aboard; let it go, no chance for NK to bluster. Stop it, and NK “embarrasses” us for stopping a non-threatening vessel.
n0doz on July 1, 2009 at 1:46 PM
That would be my bet too. It was all too easy. And I don’t think for a minute that Kim takes Obama seriously. Kim’s got cards up his sleeve.
petefrt on July 1, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Isn’t this a tacit admission that the ship was carrying something it shouldn’t have be?
Count to 10 on July 1, 2009 at 1:47 PM
:-)
had it on Fox while I was making lunch….I didn’t listen for very long that’s for sure…
cmsinaz on July 1, 2009 at 1:49 PM
It probably means that he is just getting his ship and its valuable load of weapons for the regime in Burma out of harms way and the reach of the US Navy before he starts shooting ICBMs at Hawaii.
Dreadnought223 on July 1, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Yes, apparently. Here’s the proof.
petefrt on July 1, 2009 at 2:01 PM
You may be right, but you should be addressing your comment to Ed, not me. I was pointing out that *if* Ed is going to admit that Obama played this right, he should admit that his earlier criticism was wrong.
tneloms on July 1, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Taking credit for stopping an unknown cargo is pretty weak tea.
Christien on July 1, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Might have. May is the present tense (indicative mood).
Tzetzes on July 1, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Why weren’t the Congressional Black Progressives Caucus, or the Congressional Gay Progressives Caucus invited. U are a sexist, racist, homophobe, bigot.
JiangxiDad on July 1, 2009 at 2:13 PM
I’m guessing he was trying to get us to board his ship in the middle of the night, only to find out that it is carrying a load of cement, or rocks, and not actual contraband.
In which case he could scream bloody murder about US interference and/or piracy.
I R A Darth Aggie on July 1, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Let’s all send a special prayer for Kim, the leader of North Korea. He has such a hard job, as does our wonderful President Obama!
Jeff from WI on July 1, 2009 at 2:31 PM
the crew got ronrey, so vewy, ronrey….
jcrue on July 1, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Perhaps it is time to relocate some Somali pirates to the Sea of Japan and the South China Sea. Then we could let them do our dirty work and then blow them out of the sea. We would be doing the world a favor, keeping the peace and all that UN crap. It is time to multitask here folks, two birds with one stone kinda thing.
deadbackpacker on July 1, 2009 at 2:48 PM
THose Somali people might like a change of scenery but as a sensitive person I wouldn’t want them doing anything mean.
Jeff from WI on July 1, 2009 at 2:51 PM
Yup, he blinked. It’s a pity that Clinton & Co. didn’t make this joker blink years ago. Instead we were jerked around by this nudnik who is starving his own people.
Brooklyn Dave on July 1, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt that he’s doing the best that he can.
Jeff from WI on July 1, 2009 at 3:07 PM
I wouldn’t give Obama credit. Credit goes to the Navy for following the ship, and making it look like they “might” do something. Like the Navy surrounded the Somali pirate boat, then at the appropriate moment took out the pirates with snipers. Snipers wouldn’t work in this case, but Kim might have been worried that the Navy might not obey Obama.
If we take this paragraph at face value, the ship is heading for Hong Kong. Now for the $64,000 question: does the Navy board the ship if it docks in Hong Kong?
Steve Z on July 1, 2009 at 3:07 PM
T
Hong Kong seems like a great place for a crew to have “liberty”. I hope they have a great time.
Jeff from WI on July 1, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Did I miss Kim reinstating the armistice he declared null and void after the nuclear test? If not, then technically he’s already at war with us. If he declared war again does anyone thing Barry would take him any more seriously? North Korea is, after all, a very small and insignificant country. Right?????
Interweb Troll on July 1, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Hong Kong is a ROCKIN Liberty Port… at least it was when I was there in the early 90s…
Any city that has a section of town named after a Hooker (she was a WWII spy against the Japenese…) has definatly got it goin on as a Liberty Port!
Romeo13 on July 1, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Or he’s merely testing international reactions.
obladioblada on July 1, 2009 at 3:29 PM
nah, they just realized Deadliest Catch is about crabbing, not missles.
johnnyU on July 1, 2009 at 3:38 PM
Whew, was that hard Ed, giving Obama credit?
Terry Silver on July 1, 2009 at 3:41 PM
The US Navy boarding another nation’s ship inside the sovereign waters of China? Any time prior to 1999, maybe, if the UK agreed, but today? China has complete jurisdiction for all matters involving the port of Hong Kong.
coldwarrior on July 1, 2009 at 3:44 PM
Could be Kang Nam is just running out of fuel.
J.E. Dyer on July 1, 2009 at 3:52 PM
For those sensitive friends out there and change “hooker” to “evening entertainment sub contractor”
Jeff from WI on July 1, 2009 at 4:07 PM
If so, then Obama deserves credit for winning this round.
If so, it was completely by accident.
tru2tx on July 1, 2009 at 1:02 PM
You are starting to sound the left wing Bush Haters, I do not like Obama either, I do not trust Kim but for the moment give credit to the one that did not blink.
old war horse on July 1, 2009 at 4:08 PM
North Korea only has 1 ship?
No other North Korean ships have left the ports of North Korea?
albill on July 1, 2009 at 4:17 PM
With those two simple questions, you have demonstrated a grasp of the subject far in excess of what has been seen from our government and our press over the past few weeks.
Visit any of the ships registries (several online) and take a look at the hulls that fly the NK flag, and their patterns of voyages. With deeper research, you can find third-nation flags, or wet-leased flags of convenience shipping that NK uses routinely.
The Kang Nam is a small coastal freighter…
North Korea has dozens of these, and dozens of larger ships, which hail out of Nampo…the main military cargo port of embarkation in North Korea.
coldwarrior on July 1, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Kim will launch fireworks to any territory of the USA on July 4, 2009.
atemely on July 1, 2009 at 4:33 PM
old war horse on July 1, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Every POTUS since IKE has blinked and this empty suit backed him down? You don’t really believe that now do you?
blue1 on July 1, 2009 at 4:36 PM
I’m sure someone has mentioned this but it’s not the Fourth yet.
baldilocks on July 1, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Given the size of the Kang Nam…I’d look for North Korea to fly a couple Il-76’s from Sunan airfield to Shenyang then on to Chongqing or Kunming and then on into Burma…all in friendly air space….if indeed there were cargo aboard the Kang Nam that was of an illicit type, and all could be accomplished in a 24-hour period…perhaps 48, if cargo weight demanded more flights.
coldwarrior on July 1, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Bammy’s found his true calling.
NoDonkey on July 1, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Kim didn’t blink. He’s just a moron.
johnnyU on July 1, 2009 at 7:26 PM
North Korea Test-Fires 4 Short-Range Missiles
Can we please stop hastening to “be nice” and give Obama credit unless and until he EARNS it? Which, going by his track record, will be never but I’ll keep an open mind.
KittyLowrey on July 2, 2009 at 12:15 PM
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